New Members ou mensheng Posted May 9, 2021 at 09:23 PM New Members Report Share Posted May 9, 2021 at 09:23 PM Hello! Is there a difference between the characters 想 and 要 when used in a phrase like 我想茶 and 我要茶? When used in a context like this do both characters express a want for something? Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanJingDongLu Posted May 10, 2021 at 08:50 AM Report Share Posted May 10, 2021 at 08:50 AM 想 has many meanings, but when used to express a desire, it is better translated as 'feel like' or 'would like to' compared to 要 being more like 'want'. 想 can only be used with a verb, so your above sentence is wrong. Just like how in English you can't say "I would like to tea", you need to add the verb 'drink' in there: "我想喝茶". Side note: your above 要 sentence would also benefit from adding the verb 我要喝茶, but it's less of a hard rule with 要, and 要 can be used with non-verb sentences eg "which fruit would you like?" "我要苹果". You can't say 想 here. Another use for both 想 and 要 is to express intention or desire to do something. "Tomorrow I will go to watch a movie" can be said as both 明天我要去看电影 and 明天我想去看电影, but 要 is a harder intention and suggests you already have a plan. Maybe someone asks you "would you like to go for dinner this week?" and you say "明天我要去看电影, how about Thursday?". 想 has a softer intention, and could mean that you don't end up doing it. Although you're currently planning to go to watch a movie tomorrow, you might have a change of plans, or you might find out the movie is sold out, etc. and the result would be that you don't end up going. Maybe someone asks "Have you seen that new movie?" and you would say "Not yet, I'm waiting because 我想跟我太太一起看". You may never see the movie, but you're expressing your intention that you're trying to arrange seeing it with your wife. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomsima Posted May 11, 2021 at 01:03 PM Report Share Posted May 11, 2021 at 01:03 PM On 5/9/2021 at 10:23 PM, ou mensheng said: 我想茶 and 我要茶 The first one reads incomplete here, almost as if you are saying 'I miss 'tea''. Useful to know that 想 can have the meaning of a want for the past. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanJingDongLu Posted May 27, 2021 at 03:06 PM Report Share Posted May 27, 2021 at 03:06 PM Here is a great breakdown of 想 vs 要 with lots of examples for the alternative meanings. However, it doesn't cover the difference I mentioned above with verb vs noun which is still important. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjBzBqdW0ZA 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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