Chinese verb · modal · first needed at beginner level (A1)
要
yào
to want; will; need to
+ noun is “want” ( (wǒ yào yì bēi kāfēi)); + verb, “want to”, “going to” or “need to”. Careful: “don't want to” is (bù xiǎng), (bú yào) + verb means “don't!”, and “don't need to” is (bú yòng).
Speed:
Basic
基本
+ noun: asking for or ordering things.
| affirmative | 我要一杯咖啡。Wǒ yào yì bēi kāfēi. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我不要咖啡。Wǒ bú yào kāfēi. | |
| question | 你要咖啡吗？Nǐ yào kāfēi ma? |
Completed
了
(yàole): what someone ordered or asked for.
| affirmative | 我要了一杯茶。Wǒ yàole yì bēi chá. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我没要茶。Wǒ méi yào chá. | |
| question | 你要了什么？Nǐ yàole shénme? |
Future and intention
要 / 会
+ verb: a plan, “going to”. The negative is just + verb, or (bù xiǎng, don't want to).
| affirmative | 我要去北京。Wǒ yào qù Běijīng. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我不去北京。Wǒ bú qù Běijīng. | |
| question | 你要去北京吗？Nǐ yào qù Běijīng ma? |
Result
结果补语
(yàodào): managed to get something by asking for it.
| affirmative | 我要到了他的电话。Wǒ yàodàole tā de diànhuà. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我没要到他的电话。Wǒ méi yàodào tā de diànhuà. | |
| question | 你要到他的电话了吗？Nǐ yàodào tā de diànhuà le ma? | |
| can't | 我要不到他的电话。Wǒ yào bu dào tā de diànhuà. |
Examples
- 服务员，我要两碗米饭。Fúwùyuán, wǒ yào liǎng wǎn mǐfàn.Excuse me, I'd like two bowls of rice.
- 明天我要去上海。Míngtiān wǒ yào qù Shànghǎi.I'm going to Shanghai tomorrow.
- 你要多喝水。Nǐ yào duō hē shuǐ.You need to drink more water.