想 and 要: want, would like, be going to
【一03】能愿动词“想、要”
Tone colorsā tone 1á tone 2ǎ tone 3à tone 4a neutral
想 (xiǎng) + verb = “feel like, would like”, soft and polite: 我想喝水 (I'd like some water).
要 (yào) + verb = “want” (firmer) or “be going to / have to” (a decided plan): 他要去书店 (he's going to the bookstore). 明天我要考试 (I have an exam tomorrow).
要 + noun = “want something”, used all the time for ordering: 我要一杯茶 (I'll have a tea).
Negative: for “I don't want to”, say 不想: 我不想去. Avoid 不要 + verb in this sense: 不要 + verb usually means “don't!” (a prohibition).
想 + person = “miss”: 我想妈妈 (I miss Mom).
Examples
我想学中文。
Wǒ xiǎng xué Zhōngwén.I'd like to learn Chinese.
他要去书店。
Tā yào qù shūdiàn.He's going to the bookstore.
你好，我要两个本子。
Nǐ hǎo, wǒ yào liǎng ge běnzi.Hello, I'd like two notebooks.
我不想喝茶。
Wǒ bù xiǎng hē chá.I don't feel like tea.
你想家吗？
Nǐ xiǎng jiā ma?Are you homesick?
Common mistakes
“I don't want to go”: ✗ 我不要去 (sounds bratty) → ✓ 我不想去.
我想要去 is correct but heavy for now; ✓ 我想去 is enough.