“想xiǎng” and”要yào” make you crazy?

My students always tell me that they get confused about “想xiǎng” and”要yào”. Well, it’s difficult to tell the difference. But there is a way.I hope this article can help you.

“想xiǎng” and”要yào”,as modal verbs, both mean “want/intend to do ”.However, the differences are:

1. In meaning: ”要yào” is more determined than “想xiǎng”.

2. In structure:

”要yào”, meaning want, can be followed by either an object or a verbal phrase.

As a verb 我要这个。Wǒ yào zhège.(a direct object)

As a modal verb 我要跟他们一起去中国。(a verbal phrase)

                          Wǒ yào gēn tāmen yìqǐ qù zhōngguó.

“想xiǎng” can only followed directly by a verbal phrase.

As a modal verb 我想跟朋友去看电影。(a verbal phrase)

                          Wǒ xiǎng gēn péngyou qù kàn diànyǐng.

When“想xiǎng” is followed directly by an object, it means “miss”.

As a verb 我想我的家。Wǒ xiǎng Wǒde jiā(a direct object)