Kilo Lingo

Mandarin · Chapter 6 · Lesson 10 · Common mistake

要 or 想?

Both come out as want, and one of them is considerably blunter.

The rule

想 (xiang3) is to would LIKE to, softer and more tentative. 要 (yao4) is to WANT, and it is much firmer - close to I will have. In a shop 我要 is normal and direct; 我想要 is politer. 想 also means to think of or to miss.

Pick the right one

0/6

Pick the right one: 要 or 想.

  1. 我一杯水。 (I want a glass of water)

    wǒ ___ yì bēi shuǐ 。 (I want a glass of water)

  2. 我去中国。 (I would like to go to China)

    wǒ ___ qù zhōng guó 。 (I would like to go to China)

  3. 你什么？ (what do you want?)

    nǐ ___ shén me ？ (what do you want?)

  4. 我很你。 (I miss you)

    wǒ hěn ___ nǐ 。 (I miss you)

  5. 他不去。 (he does not want to go)

    tā bù ___ qù 。 (he does not want to go)

  6. 我吃东西。 (I feel like eating something)

    wǒ ___ chī dōng xī 。 (I feel like eating something)