The Chinese word 要 has multiple meanings and uses, but it is commonly translated as “want” or “need”. It can be used to express a desire or preference for something, as in “我要喝水”, or to indicate a requirement or necessity, as in “你要学习”. It can also be used to form commands, questions or requests, as in “要不要来一杯咖啡?”. Overall, 要 is a versatile and frequently used word in Chinese.
Translation
Auxiliary Verb: to want to, going to
Conjunction: if, in case
Pronunciation
Example Sentences
| Chinese | Pinyin | Engish |
|---|---|---|
| 我要去买东西 | wǒ yào qù mǎi dōngxi | I want to go buy something |
| 你要吃什么？ | nǐ yào chī shénme? | What do you want to eat? |
| 他要学中文 | tā yào xué zhōngwén | He wants to learn Chinese |
| 我们要去旅游 | wǒmen yào qù lǚyóu | We want to go on a trip |
| 你要看电影吗？ | nǐ yào kàn diànyǐng ma? | Do you want to watch a movie? |
| 她要买一件新衣服 | tā yào mǎi yī jiàn xīn yīfú | She wants to buy a new dress |
| 我们要准备好礼物 | wǒmen yào zhǔnbèi hǎo lǐwù | We need to prepare the gifts well |
| 他要去图书馆借书 | tā yào qù túshūguǎn jiè shū | He wants to go to the library to borrow books |
HSK
要 is part of HSK Level 2 in HSK 2.0. In the newer HSK 3.0 it is part of HSK Level 1 and HSK Level 4.
Learning Card
