想
xiǎng
To want, to think, to miss
How to say “I want” in Chinese with 想 (xiǎng)
想 (xiǎng) + Verb
想 (xiǎng) — wanting to, “I want”
HSK 1Auxiliary verbs
想 (xiǎng) + Verb
HSK 1Auxiliary verbs想 (xiǎng) — wanting to, “I want”
Rule structure
想 (xiǎng) expresses a desire and, placed before a verb, can be translated as "would like to".
Rule structure
想 (xiǎng) expresses a desire and, placed before a verb, can be translated as "would like to".
Examples
我想喝水。
Wǒ xiǎng hē shuǐ.
I would like to drink water.
他想看书。
Tā xiǎng kànshū.
He would like to read a book.
我想去北京。
Wǒ xiǎng qù Běijīng.
I would like to go to Beijing.
Examples
我想喝水。
Wǒ xiǎng hē shuǐ.
I would like to drink water.
他想看书。
Tā xiǎng kànshū.
He would like to read a book.
我想去北京。
Wǒ xiǎng qù Běijīng.
I would like to go to Beijing.
Practice
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Frequently asked questions
How do you say “wanting to, ‘I want’” in Chinese with 想?
Use the structure: 想 (xiǎng) + Verb. For example: 我想喝水。 — “I would like to drink water”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
我想喝水。 — “I would like to drink water”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 1.
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More HSK 1 grammar rules
会 — will, going to
会 (huì) + Verb
能 — can, be able to
能 (néng) + Verb
会 — learned skill
会 (huì) + Verb
是 — “is” in Chinese
A + 是 (shì) + B
来 vs 去 — coming and going
来 (lái) / 去 (qù) + Place
星期 — days of the week
星期 (xīngqī) + Number
时间 — time words and word order
Subj. + Time … / Time + Subj. …
在 — actions in progress
(正 (zhèng)) 在 (zài) + Verb