Difference between revisions of "Wanting to do something with "yao""
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| − | + | In Chinese, 要 (yào), the verb "to want" doesn't quite function like the English. It means "want to" (like 想), but it's tone is very firm, such that it sounds more like "going to" (like 会), an intention. It's specific meaning often depends on context. | |
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| + | It is used in the following way: | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 我 <em>要</em> 吃饭。 | + | * 我 <em>要</em> 吃饭。 <span class="expl">(I want to eat, more of a desire)</span> |
| + | * 我 明天 <em>要</em> 走 了。 <span class="expl">(I'm going to leave tomorrow, more of an intention)</span> | ||
* 他 <em>要</em> 学习 中文。 | * 他 <em>要</em> 学习 中文。 | ||
* 她 <em>要</em> 去 酒吧。 | * 她 <em>要</em> 去 酒吧。 | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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| + | Note that if the speaker wishes to say "I'd like to", [["Would like to" with xiang|想]] can be used instead of 要. Mixing up 想 and 要 is a big problem for learners of Chinese. | ||
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==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 08:06, 15 November 2011
In Chinese, 要 (yào), the verb "to want" doesn't quite function like the English. It means "want to" (like 想), but it's tone is very firm, such that it sounds more like "going to" (like 会), an intention. It's specific meaning often depends on context.
It is used in the following way:
Subject + 要 + Verb + Object
Some examples:
- 我 要 吃饭。 (I want to eat, more of a desire)
- 我 明天 要 走 了。 (I'm going to leave tomorrow, more of an intention)
- 他 要 学习 中文。
- 她 要 去 酒吧。
Note that if the speaker wishes to say "I'd like to", 想 can be used instead of 要. Mixing up 想 and 要 is a big problem for learners of Chinese.
