Auxiliary verb "yao" and its multiple meanings
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
You probably already know the basic meaning of 要 (yào): "to want." It's actually a quite versatile word, though, and can also take on the meanings of "to need" as will as "will (do something)." In every case, context is crucial for figuring out which meaning someone is trying to express.
Contents
要 as "want to"
In Chinese, 要 (yào), the verb "to want" doesn't quite function like the English. It means "want to" (similar to 想), but its tone is quite firm.
Structure
Subject + 要 + Verb
Examples
- 我 要 吃饭。 I want to eat.
- 她 要 和 啤酒 。(this sentence could be used ordering in a resaurant)I want to drink beer.
- 我 要 跟 你 一起 去 。 I want to go with you.
要 as "need to"
If you crank the urgency of "to want" up a few notches, you get "to need." The two meanings overlap, creating a fuzzy, "needy" gray area.
Structure
Same structure here.
Subject + 要 + Verb
Examples
- 太 晚 了 ，我 要 回家 了。 (This could possibly mean "want"; depends on the urgency of the speaker)It's too late; I need to go home.
- 明天 我们 要 上班 。(logically, most people don't really WANT to work)We need to work tomorrow.
- 你 要 付钱 。 (No one WANTS to pay, right?)You need to pay.
要 as "going to"
This use of 要 is like "going to" (similar to 会).
Structure
Again, no change to the structure here.
Subject + 要 + Verb
Examples
- 明年 要 毕业 了 。 (Notice the use of a time word for the future)I'm going to graduate next year.
- 明天 我 要 回国 。(This could also mean "need," depending on context)I'm going back to my country tomorrow.
- 星期五 我们 要 开 一 个 会。 (This could possibly mean "need"; but honestly, you rarely NEED to have a meeting, right?)Friday we're going to have a meeting.
Context, context, context
You may have noticed that the meanings can easily overlap. To figure out what is intended, you need to use context. How urgent is the situation? Is it likely to be something the speaker really wants to do? Is it something that's totally going to happen, regardless of anyone's preferences? Most often, a little background knowledge and some common sense are all you need to figure it out. But you definitely need to be aware of the three possible meanings listed above.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 154-5) →buy
