Wo xiang yao (我想要…): How to say "I'd like…" in Chinese

我想要…

wǒ xiǎng yào…

I'd like…

Character breakdown

我

I, me

wǒ

想

to think, to want

xiǎng

要

to want, to need

yào

Grammar and structure

This is a verb phrase: 我 (wǒ) means "I", 想 (xiǎng) means "would like" or "want", and 要 (yào) means "to want" or "to need". Together they soften the request, making it more polite than just 要.

Variations and politeness

我想

wǒ xiǎng

I want — Shorter and less polite.

我想要一个...

wǒ xiǎng yào yī gè...

I would like one... — More specific, used when asking for a particular item.

我想要的...

wǒ xiǎng yào de...

The one I would like... — Points to a specific object.

Mini dialogue

我想要一杯水。

wǒ xiǎng yào yī bēi shuǐ.

I would like a glass of water.

好的，马上给你。

hǎo de, mǎ shàng gěi nǐ.

OK, I'll bring it right away.

When to use it

Appropriate

When ordering food or drinks in a restaurant or café.
When asking for something in a shop, like 'I'd like to see that one.'
When making a polite request for a service, such as asking for a taxi or a room.

Avoid when

When you need to be very direct or urgent, like in an emergency, use 我要 (wǒ yào) instead.
When speaking to close friends or family in casual settings, 我想要 may sound overly formal; just say 我要 or 我想.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say 'I would like' in Chinese?

You say 我想要 (wǒ xiǎng yào). It's a polite way to express a desire or make a request.

How do you pronounce 我想要?

It's pronounced wǒ xiǎng yào. The third tone on 我 and 想, and the fourth tone on 要.

When should I use 我想要 instead of 我要?

Use 我想要 when you want to be polite, such as in restaurants or shops. 我要 is more direct and can sound demanding, so it's better for close friends or urgent situations.