要
yào
To want, need, to intend to do something
How to say “I want” in Chinese with 要 (yào)
要 (yào) + Verb
要 (yào) — wanting to do something
HSK 2Auxiliary verbs
要 (yào) + Verb
HSK 2Auxiliary verbs要 (yào) — wanting to do something
Rule structure
要 (yào) is used to express a desire or wish to do something, equivalent to "want to" in English. It is followed directly by a verb. (Note: 想 (xiǎng) is often used for softer desires).
Rule structure
要 (yào) is used to express a desire or wish to do something, equivalent to "want to" in English. It is followed directly by a verb. (Note: 想 (xiǎng) is often used for softer desires).
Examples
我要学中文。
Wǒ yào xué Zhōngwén.
I want to study Chinese.
她要买苹果。
Tā yào mǎi píngguǒ.
She wants to buy apples.
我要喝水。
Wǒ yào hēshuǐ.
I want to drink water.
Examples
我要学中文。
Wǒ yào xué Zhōngwén.
I want to study Chinese.
她要买苹果。
Tā yào mǎi píngguǒ.
She wants to buy apples.
我要喝水。
Wǒ yào hēshuǐ.
I want to drink water.
Practice
Build the sentence
Drag the characters to put them in the correct order
Characters
Words from this rule
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “wanting to do something” in Chinese with 要?
Use the structure: 要 (yào) + Verb. For example: 我要学中文。 — “I want to study Chinese”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
我要学中文。 — “I want to study Chinese”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 2.
Tomyo
Learn Chinese grammar with smart reviews
Grammar explanations, exercises and spaced repetition — all in one app.
More HSK 2 grammar rules
要 — want, need, going to
要 (yào) + Noun / 要 (yào) + Verb
可以 — permission, may
可以 (kěyǐ) + Verb
要 — be going to, will
Subj. + 要 (yào) + Verb (+ 了 (le))
了 — already done
Subj. + Verb Phrase + 了 (le)
最 — superlative “most”
最 (zuì) + Adj. (+ 了 (le))
到 — direction with “to go to”
到 (dào) + Place + 去 (qù)
虽然 — although… but…
虽然 (suīrán)⋯⋯，但是 (dànshì) / 可是 (kěshì)⋯⋯
一下 — verbing briefly
Verb + 一下 (yíxià)