The Difference Between “想 (xiǎng)” and “要 (yào)” in Mandarin | TheIvyMandarin
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When we express the idea of wanting or planning to do something in English, we often use phrases like
“I want to…”, “I would like to…”, “I’m going to…”, “I will…”, or “I have decided to…”
In Chinese, we use 想 (xiǎng) and 要 (yào) instead — but many learners struggle to tell the difference.
In simple terms:
👉 “想” expresses a desire or thought.
👉 “要” expresses a decision or action.
想 (xiǎng) — expressing desire or thought
Meaning: You want or wish for something, but haven’t necessarily decided to act. It shows a feeling, a wish, or an intention in your mind.
Closest English equivalents: would like to / want to / think about / feel like
Examples:
-
我想喝咖啡。→ I’d like to have some coffee. (I feel like drinking coffee.)
-
她想学汉语。→ She wants to learn Chinese. (She’s interested in it.)
-
他们想去中国旅行。→ They’d like to travel to China. (They’re thinking about it.)
Key point: When you use 想, the focus is on the mental activity — the idea or desire itself — not the action.
要 (yào) — expressing decision or action
Meaning: You have decided to do something and are about to take action. It expresses a firm intention, a decision, or an upcoming event.
Closest English equivalents: am going to / will / have decided to
Examples:
-
我要喝咖啡。→ I’m going to have some coffee. (I’ve decided — I’ll order it now.)
-
她要学汉语。→ She’s going to study Chinese. (She’s made up her mind or already signed up.)
-
他们要去中国旅行。→ They’re going to travel to China. (The trip is confirmed; tickets may be booked.)
Key point: When you use 要, there’s a strong sense of commitment or inevitability — action is about to happen.
A clear comparison
Putting the two side by side makes the difference easier to see:
| Sentence | Implied meaning |
|---|---|
| 我想看电影。 | I feel like watching a movie. (I have the idea, but I might still be at home, undecided.) |
| 我要看电影。 | I’m going to watch a movie. (I’ve decided — I’m buying the ticket or turning on the TV now.) |
| 他想买电脑。 | He’s thinking about buying a computer. (Maybe he’s saving money or comparing models.) |
| 他要买电脑。 | He’s going to buy a computer. (He’s made up his mind — maybe he’s buying it today.) |
A vivid analogy
-
想 (xiǎng) is like looking at the menu and saying:
“Hmm… I want to eat ice cream.” (You’re still thinking.) -
要 (yào) is like telling the waiter:
“I’ll have an ice cream.” (You’ve made your choice and are ready to get it.)
👉 So, use 想 when you’re thinking or wishing about something.
👉 Use 要 when you’ve decided and are ready to act.
Special case: “要” meaning “need”
Sometimes 要 means “to need”, which makes it quite different from 想.
Examples:
-
你要喝水吗？→ Do you need to drink some water?
-
我要一支笔。→ I need a pen.
Avoid direct translation
Don’t translate 想 and 要 too literally as “want” and “will.”
In English, want can also sound very strong, which may confuse the meaning.
Try these thought questions:
-
If you 想去公园 (“want to go to the park”), did you go?
→ Not necessarily. It’s just an idea. -
If you 要去公园 (“are going to the park”), did you go?
→ Probably yes — the plan is already made.
Negatives
-
不想 — shows a lack of desire.
我不想去。= I don’t want to go. (soft refusal)
-
不要 — shows refusal or prohibition, and sounds stronger.
不要去！= Don’t go!
我不要这个。= I don’t want this / I refuse this.
Was everything clear? (*^_^*)
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