想要

xiǎngyào
verb

Meanings

  1. 1 to want
  2. 2 to want to; to feel like

Examples

HSK 3
Nǐ xiǎngyào shénme lǐwù?
What present would you like?
HSK 3
Wǒ xiǎngyào xuéhǎo Zhōngwén, suǒyǐ měi tiān dōu liànxí.
I want to learn Chinese well, so I practise every day.

Tips

usage
想要 takes a noun ('to want something') or a verb ('to want to do'). It is firmer than 想 'would like' and softer than a bare 要 'want; will have'. In a shop, 我要这个 'I'll take this one' is the usual way to ask.

Stroke Order

想 xiǎng
要 yào