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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing wanting to do something with 想要 (xiǎngyào)

    Wishes & Desires

    Structure

    Subject + 想要 + Verb Phrase

    Explanation

    The verb 想要 (xiǎngyào) means "to want to" or "to desire" and expresses a person's wish or intention to do something. It is stronger than 想 alone and is followed directly by a verb or verb phrase.

    Examples

    • 我想要学做中国菜，你能教我吗？

      wǒ xiǎng yào xué zuò Zhōngguó cài, nǐ néng jiāo wǒ ma?

      I want to learn how to cook Chinese food — can you teach me?

    • 她想要去日本旅行，已经开始存钱了。

      tā xiǎng yào qù Rìběn lǚxíng, yǐjīng kāishǐ cún qián le.

      She wants to travel to Japan and has already started saving money.

    • 我们想要买一套新房子，但是价格太高了。

      wǒmen xiǎng yào mǎi yí tào xīn fángzi, dànshì jiàgé tài gāo le.

      We want to buy a new house, but the prices are too high.

    Similar Grammar

    Expressing wanting to do something with 想要 (xiǎngyào) | Chinese Grammar