Modal verbs: want

Chinese modal verbs that express willingness are: 要 (yào), 想 (xiǎng) and 愿意 (yuànyì).

要 (yào) is used to express the intention to do something. Given that, as explained in the lesson Modal verbs: have to, must, the negative form of 不要 (bù yào) is used to indicate prohibitions, when 要 has the meaning of “to intend to” or “to want”, its negative form is 不想 (bù xiǎng). Besides, it is used as a future indicator.

我要学中文。
wǒ yào xué zhōngwén
[I to-want to-study Chinese]
I want to study Chinese.

我不想一个人吃晚饭。
wǒ bùxiǎng yīgè rén chī wǎnfàn
[I not to-want one QU person to-eat dinner]
I don’t want to eat dinner alone.

明年他要上大学。
míngnián tā yào shàng dàxué
[next year he FUT to-join university]
He will go to university next year.

想 (xiǎng), as a modal verb, expresses a desire. However it can also mean “to think” and “to miss, or remember with longing”. The combination 想要 (xiǎng yào) means “would like” and it is used, for example, when buying something.

我已经吃饱了，但我还想吃一块蛋糕。
wǒ yǐjīng chī bǎole, dàn wǒ hái xiǎng chī yīkuài dàngāo
[I already to-be-full(of food) but I still to-want to-eat one QU cake]
I am already full, but I still want to eat a piece of cake.

我想要买这件衬衫。
wǒ xiǎng yāomǎi zhè jiàn chènshān
[I would-like to-buy this QU shirt]
I would like to buy this shirt.

愿意 (yuànyì) expresses the availability and the willingness to do something.

如果你需要的话，我愿意帮你一个忙。
rúguǒ nǐ xūyào dehuà, wǒ yuànyì bāng nǐ yīgè máng
[if you to-need ST case I to-be-willing to-help you one QU to-work]
I am willing to help you, in case you need it.

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