你要吗
nǐ yào ma
In Chinese, "do you want" is expressed as 你要吗 (nǐ yào ma).
你要吗 is a phrase used to ask if someone would like to have or receive something. It is typically used among friends and peers.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the subject 你 (you), the verb 要 (want) and the question particle 吗.
Which one should you use?
你要吗 is typically used when asking if someone wants a specific object or action that has already been mentioned or is physically present.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To make the question more respectful when addressing elders or superiors, you can replace 你 with 您 to say 您要吗.
How does it change in a sentence?
Instead of using the particle 吗, you can use the verb-not-verb structure 你要不要 to ask the same question.
How do you pronounce it?
nǐ yào ma
When do people say it?
When someone asks you this question, a common way to answer 'yes' is to simply say 要, while a common way to answer 'no' is to say 不要.
Did you know?
- In many Chinese cultures, if you are offered something using 你要吗, it is polite to decline once or twice before finally accepting. Accepting immediately can be seen as overly eager or lacking modesty.
- In many regions of China, if someone asks 你要吗 while offering food, a polite way to decline is to say 不用了 (no need) instead of a blunt 不要 (don't want), which can sound slightly childish or aggressive.
- While 要 means 'to want', it can also mean 'to be about to' in certain contexts, so a listener must use the surrounding words to know if you are asking about a desire or an imminent action.
Examples in context
- 等一下，我有些点心，你想要吗？Wait a moment, I have some snacks. Do you want any?
- 嘿，我买了两张电影票，你要吗？Hey, I bought two movie tickets. Do you want one?
- 这里有一些新游戏，你想要不？There are some new games here. Do you want to try them?
- 你想吃吗？Do you want to eat?
- 你要吗？Nǐ yào ma?Do you want it?
- 这个你要吗？Zhège nǐ yào ma?Do you want this one?
- 剩下的糖你要吗？Shèng xià de táng nǐ yào ma?Do you want the leftover candy?
Example conversation
Haoran is offering Jiayi some extra fruit at home.
- 浩然 Haoran佳怡，这个苹果你要吗？Jiāyí, zhège píngguǒ nǐ yào ma?Jiayi, do you want this apple?
- 佳怡 Jiayi我要，谢谢你。Wǒ yào, xièxiè nǐ.I want it, thank you.
- 浩然 Haoran不客气，多吃点水果。Bú kèqi, duō chī diǎn shuǐguǒ.You're welcome, eat more fruit.
- 佳怡 Jiayi好，浩然你真好。Hǎo, Hàorán nǐ zhēn hǎo.Okay, Haoran, you are so kind.
