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 [["Would like to" with xiang|想]]), but it's tone is very firm, | + | In Chinese, 要 (yào), the verb "to want" doesn't quite function like the English. It means "want to" (like [["Would like to" with xiang|想]]), but it's tone is very firm, so that can sound more like "going to" (like [[Auxiliary verb "hui" for "will"|会]]), an intention. It's specific meaning often depends on context. |
Some examples: | Some examples: | ||
Revision as of 08:19, 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, so that can sound more like "going to" (like 会), an intention. It's specific meaning often depends on context.
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)
- 她 要 去 酒吧。(She wants/is going to go the the bar, possibly a desire or intention, dependent on context)
Note that if the speaker wishes to say "I'd like to", 想 can be used instead of 要. Using 要 instead of 想 is a common mistake for learners of Chinese.
