yào
To want, need, to intend to do something
要 (yào) / 让 (ràng) + 我 (wǒ) + 说 (shuō) + Opinion
Pattern diagram
Rule structure
要我说 (yào wǒ shuō) and 让我说 (ràng wǒ shuō) are colloquial markers that introduce a personal judgment or advice: "if you ask me," "I'd say." They highlight the speaker's subjective stance rather than literally asking permission to speak. They usually come at the start of a sentence, followed by the opinion or recommendation.
Rule structure
要我说 (yào wǒ shuō) and 让我说 (ràng wǒ shuō) are colloquial markers that introduce a personal judgment or advice: "if you ask me," "I'd say." They highlight the speaker's subjective stance rather than literally asking permission to speak. They usually come at the start of a sentence, followed by the opinion or recommendation.
Examples
要我说,咱们还是坐地铁去吧。
Yào wǒ shuō, zánmen háishi zuò dìtiě qù ba.
If you ask me, we'd better take the subway.
Examples
要我说,咱们还是坐地铁去吧。
Yào wǒ shuō, zánmen háishi zuò dìtiě qù ba.
If you ask me, we'd better take the subway.
Two short exercises: see how the rule works in a dialogue and in a sentence. No sign-up needed.
yào
To want, need, to intend to do something
ràng
To let, to ask, to make someone do something
wǒ
I, me
shuō
To speak, to say, to tell
zánmen
We (including the listener)
háishi
Or; still
qù
To go
ba
(particle expressing suggestion, guess, etc.)
zhè
This
jiàn
(classifier for things, clothing, events)
yīfu
Clothes, clothing
tài
Too, excessively
Use the structure: 要 (yào) / 让 (ràng) + 我 (wǒ) + 说 (shuō) + Opinion. For example: 要我说,咱们还是坐地铁去吧。 — “If you ask me, we'd better take the subway”.
要我说,咱们还是坐地铁去吧。 — “If you ask me, we'd better take the subway”.
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.0 Levels 7–9.
Tomyo
Grammar explanations, exercises and spaced repetition — all in one app.
不瞒你说 — to tell you the truth
不瞒你说 (bù mán nǐ shuō) / 老实说 (lǎoshi shuō) / 说真的 (shuō zhēn de) + Personal opinion or confession
这样一来 — in this way, as a result
这样一来 (zhèyàng yìlái) + Conclusion/Consequence
这不 — “see, look”
Preceding statement,+ 这不 (zhè bu),+ confirming fact
反过来 — reversal and concession markers
反过来 (fǎnguòlai) + (说 (shuō)) + reverse viewpoint; 话是这么说 (huà shì zhème shuō) + objection; 话 (huà) + (又 (yòu)) + 说回来 (shuō huílai) + counterbalancing point; 退一步说 (tuì yí bù shuō) + concession
不是 — not to criticize you
不是 (búshì) + correction / 不是我说你 (búshì wǒ shuō nǐ) + criticism / 你看你 (nǐ kàn nǐ) + reproach
无论如何 — no matter what
无论如何 (wúlùn rúhé) + Subject + (都 (dōu)) + Predicate
概括来说 — summary and conclusion
概括来说 (gàikuò lái shuō) / 总的来说 (zǒng de lái shuō) / 总而言之 (zǒng ér yán zhī) / 归根到底 (guīgēndàodǐ) / 简言之 (jiǎn yán zhī) / 简而言之 (jiǎn ér yán zhī) / 综上所述 (zōng shàng suǒ shù) + Conclusion
还别说 — you know what, actually
(你 (nǐ)) + 还别说 (hái bié shuō) + conclusion/admission
Got the rule? Test yourself
Two exercises, under a minute.