想 = Xiǎng, 要 = Yào and 想要 = XiǎngYào can all be translated into “want” or “want to” sometimes. However, they’re not exactly the same across all contexts. (Otherwise, why would there be three terms instead of one?!) You may be wondering: What are the differences? When can they be used interchangeably or not? Which one should I use and when?
Thank you George for your question!
The high level differences between 想, 想要, 要 in the context of “want to“
- 想: One would like to do something, is thinking of doing something, has the desire to do something, but it’s mostly just a thought.
- 想要: One wants to do something, but hasn’t acted on it.
- 要: One has made up one’s mind to do something, and is about to do something.
Let’s look at some examples from Peppa Pig
Mandarin Chinese is a highly contextual language. You need to interpret 想, 想要 and 要 in contexts. There is no better way than looking at all the instances of 想, 要, and 想要 that have popped up so far in Peppa Pig, and compare and contrast them all. 😛
乔治也想一起玩儿 S01E03 Part 1
佩奇和苏西想要自己玩 S01E03 Part 2
乔治想要一起玩儿 S01E03 Part 3
乔治想和佩奇玩 S01E03 Part 3
但他更想要和佩奇玩 S01E03 Part 3
- In all the cases above, 想 and 想要 can be used interchangeably. They all mean George wants to play with Peppa and Suzy. In general 想 and 想要 are really not that different in the context of wanting to do something.
- However, using 要 would be different because 要 is much stronger. George要和Peppa玩儿 implies he demands that he plays with Peppa, or he is about to join the playing.
我现在要挥动我的魔法棒了 S01E03 Part 2
- 要 means about to do something here. Peppa is going to wave her wand, and she’s already made up her mind. She’s not just thinking about it anymore.
- You can’t use 想 or 想要 to mean the same thing here.
我想当护士 S01E03 Part 4
我想当一位医生 S01E03 Part 4
- All three words can be used here. 要 would indicate a slightly stronger desire and a stronger resolve.
我想你得在床上躺上三年了 S01E03 Part 4
- 想 means think, used here to express an subjective opinion.
- You strictly can’t use 要 or 想要 in this case
我想你是饿了，爸爸 S01E03 Part 6
- 想 means think, used here to express an subjective opinion.
- You strictly can’t use 要 or 想要 in this case
但是他们今天他们赶着要去和鹦鹉波利一起玩 S01E04 Part 3
- 赶着 gives rise of the imagery of somebody running in a hurry to do something. 赶着要去 means they are in a hurry to do something soon. This is way beyond the thinking or desiring stage so you should use 要.
佩奇在想有什么可和鹦鹉波利说的 S01E04 Part 5
- 在想 means currently thinking of something. 要 or 想要 can’t be used for thinking. Never use 在要 or 在想要.
乔治你要小心一点 S01E09 Part 4
- 要 means should here, it’s a strong imperative.
- You can’t replace it with 想 or 想要 here.
我也想知道为什么 S01E09 Part 6
- 想知道 or want to know, is a commonly used set phrase
- 我要知道 could mean I demand to know something however it’s rarely used this way. Don’t use it. If you really want to say I must know something, you could use 我一定得知道 or 我必须得知道. Better, just ask strongly somebody to tell you 你必须告诉我
- 想要知道 is could work but less used.
我想这是一个…一个新玩具 S01E51 Part 1
- In this context 想 means to think or to guess.
- You strictly can’t use 要 or 想要 in this case
比我想象中的要难一点 S01E51 Part 2
- 要 means more in this context
- You strictly can’t use 想 or 想要 here because 要 here doesn’t mean want to.
我迫不及待想帮您拍第一部影片了 S01E51 Part 3
- All three words can be used here. 要 would indicate a slightly stronger desire and a stronger resolve.
乔治，你想第一个来吗 S01E51 Part 4
- 你想…吗？ is a set phrase for asking “do you want to…”?
- 要 is often associated with an immediate action. In this case 你要第一个来吗 is also grammatically correct. Mommy Pig would more likely use 要 here if she already knows George is willing or eager to appear in the movie.
- 想要 is slightly stronger than 想 in terms of the intensity of the desire. But if you use 想要 here it’s okay
Please comment to let me know if you have any further questions!