In Mandarin Mandarin Chinese, xiǎng 想 and yào 要 both relate to desire but serve different functions: xiǎng 想 often expresses intention or polite want, while yào 要 signals more definite demand or need. Choosing between them shapes the nuance of your sentence.
想 xiǎng – to think / to want (softly)
Use xiǎng 想 for mild desires, plans, or when you soften a request; it can mean "to think," "to want," or "to plan" depending on context. Speakers use 想 to sound polite or to indicate that the action is not absolutely fixed.
He plans to travel to Beijing.
要 yào – to want / to need (more forceful)
Use yào 要 for stronger wants, needs, or when making clear requests; it signals more definite intention or demand. 要 can also appear in contexts where you "need" something rather than just "want" it, giving the sentence more urgency.
我要 wǒ yào vs 我想 wǒ xiǎng
The difference between 我想 wǒ xiǎng and 我要 wǒ yào highlights tone: 我想 sounds gentler or more tentative, while 我要 sounds more direct or certain. Choose based on whether you want to be polite or firm in your speech.
Examples
| Hanzi Sentence | Pinyin Sentence | English Translation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥢 我想吃饺子。 | Wǒ xiǎng chī jiǎozi. | I feel like eating dumplings. | |
| 🍜 我要一碗拉面。 | Wǒ yào yì wǎn lāmiàn. | I want a bowl of ramen. | |
| 🧾 服务员，我要点菜。 | Fúwùyuán, wǒ yào diǎn cài. | Waiter, I’d like to order. | |
| 💬 我想你很忙，晚点说。 | Wǒ xiǎng nǐ hěn máng, wǎndiǎn shuō. | I think you’re busy, talk later. |
Summary
Remember: use xiǎng 想 for soft or polite desires and planning, and yào 要 for clear, forceful wants or needs; switching them changes nuance so think about your speech context.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025