HSK 1 grammar · new HSK syllabus
想 and 要: want to, going to
想 = would like to; 要 = want (more strongly), or be going to. The negative of both is usually 不想.
Structure
- Subject + 想 / 要 + verb
- Subject + 要 + noun
How it works
想 + verb means “would like to”: 我想喝茶. It sounds softer.
要 + verb is stronger and can mean “will, be going to”: 我要去北京 = I’m going to Beijing. 要 + noun means “want”: 我要这个.
The negative of 要 (want to) is normally 不想. 不要 means “don’t!”: 不要说话.
Examples
-
我想喝一杯茶。
Wǒ xiǎng hē yì bēi chá.
I’d like a cup of tea.
-
你想去哪儿？
Nǐ xiǎng qù nǎr?
Where would you like to go?
-
明天我要去北京。
Míngtiān wǒ yào qù Běijīng.
I’m going to Beijing tomorrow.
-
我要这个，不要那个。
Wǒ yào zhège, búyào nàge.
I want this one, not that one.
-
我不想去学校。
Wǒ bù xiǎng qù xuéxiào.
I don’t want to go to school.
Words in these examples (15)
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 想 | xiǎng | to want to; to think; to miss | HSK 1 |
| 喝 | hē | to drink | HSK 1 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 茶 | chá | tea | HSK 1 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 去 | qù | to go | HSK 1 |
| 哪儿 | nǎr | where | HSK 1 |
| 明天 | míngtiān | tomorrow | HSK 1 |
| 要 | yào | to want; will; should | HSK 1 |
| 这个 | zhège | this one | HSK 1 |
| 不要 | búyào | don't | HSK 1 |
| 那个 | nàge | that one | HSK 1 |
| 不 | bù | not; no | HSK 1 |
| 学校 | xuéxiào | school | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗我不要去。（meaning “I don’t want to go”）
✓我不想去。
不要 + verb usually means “don’t”; use 不想 for not wanting to.
-
✗我想要去了北京。
✓我想去北京。
想 and 要 are about the future; don’t add 了.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 我不喝咖啡， 喝茶。
2. 我 去，我很累。
3. 说话，他在睡觉。