Xiǎng 想 vs yào 要 – to think vs to want
In Mandarin, xiǎng 想 and yào 要 are two very common verbs that sometimes overlap in meaning but serve different functions: xiǎng 想 usually expresses thinking, planning, or wanting in a tentative way, while yào 要 signals a stronger intention, desire, or immediate need.
xiǎng 想
Xiǎng 想 primarily means "to think," "to want to," or "to plan to" and is often used when you are considering something or expressing a preference. It can soften requests and show that you are mulling over an idea rather than demanding something.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我 想 去 北京。 | Wǒ xiǎng qù Běijīng. | I want to go to Beijing. / I am thinking of going to Beijing. |
| 你 想 吃 什么？ | Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme? | What do you want to eat? (What are you thinking of eating?) |
| 他 想 学 中文。 | Tā xiǎng xué Zhōngwén. | He wants to learn Chinese. / He is thinking about learning Chinese. |
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🛌 我想睡觉。 | Wǒ xiǎng shuìjiào. | I want to sleep. | Desire/need |
| 📞 我想给你打电话。 | Wǒ xiǎng gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà. | I want to call you. | Intention |
| 🤔 我想他可能迟到了。 | Wǒ xiǎng tā kěnéng chídào le. | I think he might be late. | Thought/speculation |
| 🧠 我想了一下，决定明天去。 | Wǒ xiǎng le yíxià, juédìng míngtiān qù. | I thought about it and decided to go tomorrow. | Consideration |
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yào 要
Yào 要 means "to want," "to need," or "to be going to" and expresses a stronger intention or an immediate request. It is commonly used when ordering food, asking for something directly, or stating a definite plan. Yào 要 can also indicate necessity.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我 要 去 北京。 | Wǒ yào qù Běijīng. | I am going to go to Beijing. (definite plan) |
| 你 要 什么？ | Nǐ yào shénme? | What do you want? (direct request) |
| 他 要 买 一 本 书。 | Tā yào mǎi yī běn shū. | He wants to buy a book. (strong intention) |
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🍎 我想要一个苹果。 | Wǒ xiǎng yào yí gè píngguǒ. | I want an apple. | Request with yào |
| 🛒 我要买三瓶水。 | Wǒ yào mǎi sān píng shuǐ. | I want to buy three bottles of water. | Strong desire/intent |
| 🚪 房间要有人吗？ | Fángjiān yào yǒu rén ma? | Does the room need someone? | Necessity/need |
| ⏰ 我要早点睡觉。 | Wǒ yào zǎodiǎn shuìjiào. | I want to go to bed early. | Plan/decision |
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When to Use xiǎng 想 vs yào 要
Use xiǎng 想 when expressing a thought, preference, or a plan that is not yet fixed. Use yào 要 for stronger desires, immediate needs, or definite plans. In many contexts, replacing one with the other changes the tone from tentative to assertive.
| Sentence | Use xiǎng 想 | Use yào 要 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 我要去饭店。 | ✔️ | I am going to the restaurant (definite). | |
| 我想去饭店。 | ✔️ | I want to go / I am thinking of going (less certain). | |
| 你要点菜吗？ | ✔️ | Do you want to order? (immediate) | |
| 你想点菜吗？ | ✔️ | Do you want to order? (softer, more like "are you thinking about it?") |
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥡 我想吃点儿东西。 | Wǒ xiǎng chī diǎnr dōngxī. | I’d like to eat something. | Polite/soft desire |
| 🥢 我要吃饭。 | Wǒ yào chīfàn. | I want to eat. | Direct/clear intention |
| 🏃 我想去公园走走。 | Wǒ xiǎng qù gōngyuán zǒu zǒu. | I’d like to go for a walk in the park. | Thoughtful wish |
| 📅 我明天要去见朋友。 | Wǒ míngtiān yào qù jiàn péngyǒu. | I’m going to see friends tomorrow. | Scheduled plan |
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Summary
Xiǎng 想 expresses thinking, wanting in a mild way, or planning, while yào 要 signals stronger desire, immediate request, or definite intention. Choosing between them changes the nuance from tentative to assertive, so use xiǎng 想 for thoughts and plans and yào 要 for demands and urgent wants.
Last updated: Tue Sep 16, 2025