Meanings of 要
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 要
Podcast: 要
Podcast: 要
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 要
想 (xiǎng) vs 要 (yào): Use 想 when expressing a desire or thought about wanting something without the implication of demand or necessity.
Be careful not to confuse 要 with 想 (xiǎng), which means 'to think' or 'to want' in a less urgent manner. 要 is often used in both polite requests and more forceful commands, so be mindful of your tone. Common collocations include 要求 (yāoqiú, 'demand') and 重要 (zhòngyào, 'important').
As an HSK Level 2 word, 要 connects well with other verbs expressing desire or necessity. Focus on using it in sentences about your wants or future plans, and practice distinguishing between its meanings as a main verb and as an auxiliary verb.
Learners often confuse 要 with 想 and use them interchangeably, leading to misinterpretations. For example, saying '我想要去' (Wǒ xiǎng yào qù) is correct, but they might incorrectly say '我要想去' (Wǒ yào xiǎng qù), which is not standard usage.
Pronunciation of 要
Drill the tone of 要 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 要
Pictograph of two hands grabbing a woman's waist. The current meaning "want" is a phonetic loan. The original meaning "waist" is now written as 腰.
A woman 女 with hands on her waist 覀
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 要
Pictograph of two hands grabbing a woman's waist. The current meaning "want" is a phonetic loan. The original meaning "waist" is now written as 腰.
- 1The giveawayA woman 女 with hands on her waist 覀
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 要? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 要?
Decomposition of 要
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 要?
How to say to want in Chinese
“to want” in Chinese is要
The character 要 (yāo) primarily means 'to want' or 'to demand'. It is commonly used in requests and can express necessity or intention, making it versatile in both casual and formal contexts. Additionally, it can indicate future actions when used as an auxiliary verb.
When to use 要
Be careful not to confuse 要 with 想 (xiǎng), which means 'to think' or 'to want' in a less urgent manner. 要 is often used in both polite requests and more forceful commands, so be mindful of your tone. Common collocations include 要求 (yāoqiú, 'demand') and 重要 (zhòngyào, 'important').
要 or something close to it
想 (xiǎng) vs 要 (yào): Use 想 when expressing a desire or thought about wanting something without the implication of demand or necessity.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 要 with 想 and use them interchangeably, leading to misinterpretations. For example, saying '我想要去' (Wǒ xiǎng yào qù) is correct, but they might incorrectly say '我要想去' (Wǒ yào xiǎng qù), which is not standard usage.
Write 要
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 要 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 要
要 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 15 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
他____去书店。
He's going to the bookstore.
Example Sentences for 要 (16)
Word Family of 要
Compound Meaning
What does 腰 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 要
Yes, 要 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but the tone may need to be adjusted for politeness.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 要?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.