我想
wǒ xiǎng
The English phrase "I want to" is translated into Chinese as 我想 (wǒ xiǎng).
我想 is a phrase used to express a desire or a wish to do something. You can intensify this desire by adding 非常 (fēi chāng, very) before it.
What does it mean word for word?
The character 想 (xiǎng) literally means "to think" or "to consider", which is why 我想 can also mean "I think" depending on the context.
Which one should you use?
我想 is often used to express a desire or a thought more softly or politely than the more direct 我要. In contrast, 我要 (wǒ yào) expresses a much stronger, more direct and sometimes more demanding sense of "want" or "will".
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike English, you do not need to add the word 'to' (like '去' or '做') between 我想 and the verb. The verb follows directly.
How do you pronounce it?
wǒ xiǎng
Did you know?
- While 我想 expresses a desire, it can also mean 'I miss you' if you follow it with a person's name, such as 我想你. In this context, the word 'want' shifts to mean 'longing for' someone.
- While 我想 translates to 'I want to', adding 吧 (ba) at the end of the sentence turns the desire into a suggestion, effectively saying 'I think we should'.
- In some Chinese dialects or very informal Mandarin, people might omit the 'I' (wǒ) entirely if the context is clear, simply saying 想… to express a sudden whim.
Examples in context
- 我想要出国。I want to go abroad.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase 我想 with the verb "to go abroad".Tatoeba #394187 by GlossaMatik, translation #21938 by CK
- 我想代替他。I want to replace him.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase 我想 with the verb "to replace".Tatoeba #1471502 by sadhen, translation #7781135 by sharris123
- 我想学围棋。I want to learn how to play "Go".This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase 我想 with the verb "to learn".Tatoeba #1691662 by sadhen, translation #7844496 by sharris123
- 324 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their plans for the weekend.
- 梓涵 Zihan志强，你想吃什么？Zhìqiáng, nǐ xiǎng chī shénme?Zhiqiang, what do you want to eat?
- 志强 Zhiqiang我想吃火锅。Wǒ xiǎng chī huǒguō.I want to eat hotpot.
- 梓涵 Zihan我也想吃，那我们走吧。Wǒ yě xiǎng chī, nà wǒmen zǒu ba.I want to eat it too, let's go then.
- 志强 Zhiqiang好，走吧。Hǎo, zǒu ba.Okay, let's go.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
