要 (yào) is a high-frequency modal and main verb with several related meanings: to want something, to be going to do something (future marker), and to need or must do something. Context disambiguates between these readings. As a future marker it is less formal than 将 (jiāng) and very common in spoken Mandarin.

The character originally depicted a woman with hands on her waist, signifying a demand or requirement. In modern usage, 要 spans casual requests ("I want..."), polite needs ("I need..."), and future intent ("I am going to..."), making it one of the most versatile words at this frequency level. Its negative form 不要 (bú yào) means "don't" in imperative sentences.