When is 想 "to think" and when is it "would like to"?

[webmagnets]

When is 想 "to think" and when is it "would like to"?

[MuTouRen]

It's purely contextual, Only through the context can you tell. However to an extent the meanings are synonymies.

[Mingjing]

would like to ---> 想

think ----> 想

about how to distinguish. it depends on the context.

you know, Chinese character is much less than English. so one Chinese character usually corresponds to several English words. you'll see more later.

[mirgcire]

When 想 precedes another verb it has the meaning of "would like".

For example: "我想喝啤酒“, or Wǒ xiǎng hē píjiǔ, means "I would like to drink beer".

When 想 is the main verb it can mean "think" or "miss"

For example: "我想一想“， or Wǒ xiǎng yì xiǎng, means "Let me think".

And "我想你“， or Wǒ xiǎng nǐ,means "I miss you".