https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wsila9kjmRQ

In Mandarin, "想要" (xiǎng yào) and "想" (xiǎng) sometimes express similar meanings, both used to convey thoughts or intentions. However, sometimes, depending on the words that follow, the meanings can be entirely different. Today, we want to discuss the differences between "想要" (xiǎng yào) and "想" (xiǎng) in detail.

 

First, let's look at "想" (xiǎng). "想" (xiǎng) is a "state verb," and it can be followed by a verb (verb phrase) or a noun (expressing missing someone, thinking of someone).

 

(a) When "想" (xiǎng) is followed by a verb (verb phrase), it expresses the intention or desire to do a certain action. For example:

 

Example 1: 我想吃冰淇淋。 (Wǒ xiǎng chī bīngqílín.) 

Example 2: 我想睡覺。 (Wǒ xiǎng shuìjiào.)

 

Here, "吃冰淇淋" (chī bīngqílín, eating ice cream) or "睡覺" (shuìjiào, sleeping) are verb phrases used as objects, expressing the speaker's desire to do these actions. Note that "想" (xiǎng) here is not an auxiliary verb, so be aware of this distinction.

 

(b) When "想" (xiǎng) is followed by a noun, the first type expresses missing or longing for someone. For example:

 

Example 1: 我很想我爸。 (Wǒ hěn xiǎng wǒ bà.) 

Example 2: 小明一直很想他的前女友。 (Xiǎomíng yīzhí hěn xiǎng tā de qián nǚyǒu.)

 

Here, "想" (xiǎng) is close to the meaning of "想念" (xiǎngniàn, to miss), and it can also be followed by other words to expand its meaning, such as "想起" (xiǎngqǐ, to recall), "想出" (xiǎngchū, to come up with), "想着" (xiǎngzhe, thinking about), etc., which we won't discuss in detail here.

 

(c) When "想" (xiǎng) is followed by a noun, the second type expresses thinking or considering. For example:

 

Example 1: 大華想這個題目想了一整天。 (Dàhuá xiǎng zhège tímù xiǎngle yī zhěng tiān.)

 

Next, let's look at "想要" (xiǎng yào). Here, "想" (xiǎng) is an auxiliary verb expressing the intention to perform a certain action, while "要" (yào) means wanting to obtain something. Combined, "想要" (xiǎng yào) expresses a stronger desire or need, sounding more determined and goal-oriented.

 

Interestingly, depending on what follows, the meaning can differ from "想" (xiǎng).

 

(a) When followed by a verb (verb phrase), it expresses a stronger intention or desire to do something. For example:

 

Example 1: 我想要去紐約。 (Wǒ xiǎng yào qù Niǔyuē.) 

Example 2: 爸爸想要買新車，結果跟媽媽大吵了一架。 (Bàba xiǎng yào mǎi xīnchē, jiéguǒ gēn māma dà chǎole yī jià.)

 

Here, "去紐約" (qù Niǔyuē, going to New York) or "買新車" (mǎi xīnchē, buying a new car) are also used as objects, expressing the subject's strong desire to perform these actions. The grammar is similar to "想" (xiǎng), but it sounds more determined.

 

(b) When followed by a noun, it expresses the desire to obtain something. For example:

 

Example 1: 我想要一台新電腦。 (Wǒ xiǎng yào yī tái xīn diànnǎo.) 

Example 2: 小美想要一個男朋友，所以開始玩交友軟體。 (Xiǎoměi xiǎng yào yī ge nán péngyǒu, suǒyǐ kāishǐ wán jiāoyǒu ruǎntǐ.)

 

Note that "想要" (xiǎng yào) does not have the meaning of missing or thinking like "想" (xiǎng). The core meaning of "想要" (xiǎng yào) is in "要" (yào), with "想" (xiǎng) only making the desire stronger and more determined. This is the biggest difference between "想要" (xiǎng yào) and "想" (xiǎng).

 

Additionally, when "想" (xiǎng) is used alone as a verb, it is often used to state thinking about something. If it involves other subjects, places, or things, "想念" (xiǎngniàn) is more commonly used. This word's introduction is outside the scope of today's discussion so that we won't cover it here.

 

在華語裡面，「想要」跟「想」有時候表達的意思很類似，都是用來表達想法或意向的意思；但有時候因為後面接的詞的不同，意思也會完全不一樣。今天我們想好好地討論一下「想要」跟「想」的差異在哪裡

 

首先，我們先來看「想」。想是一個「狀態動詞」，它的後面可以接動詞（動詞短語）或名詞（表達想念、掛念、想起）（表達思考）。

 

（一）「想」接動詞（動詞短語）的時候，表達的是作某個動作的意向或願望。如：

 

例句一：我想吃冰淇淋。

 

例句二：我想睡覺

 

這裡的「吃冰淇淋」或「睡覺」，都是動詞）動詞短語當受詞用，表示的是說話者想（做這兩件事情），在這裡並不是一個助動詞，請各位要留意。

 

 

（二）想接名詞的狀況，第一種表達想念、思念，如：

 

例句一：我很想我爸

 

例句二：小明一直很想他的前女友。

 

這裡的想跟「想念」的意思很接近，想的後面也可以接上其他字擴展意思，如「想起」、「想出」、「想著」等等，這邊暫不討論。

 

（三）想接名詞的狀況，第二種表達思考、考慮。

 

例句一：大華想這個題目想了一整天

 

 

接下來，我們來看看「想要」，這裡的想是一個助動詞，同樣表達的是作某個動作的意向；「要」是希望得到某東西的意思，合起來的「想要」表達的是更強烈的願望或是需求，會聽起來更有決心跟明確的目標。

 

有趣的是，在後面可以接的東西上面，意思會跟想有些不同。

 

（一）接動詞（動詞短語），表達比較強烈地去作某件事情的意向或願望

 

例句一：我想要去紐約

 

例句二：爸爸想要買新車，結果跟媽媽大吵了一架。

 

這裡的「去紐約」或「買新車」同樣都是當受詞用，表達說話者或是主詞想要「做的動作」。這裡的文法跟想的意思一樣，只是聽起來意志更堅定。

 

 

（二）接名詞，表達希望得到某個事物的願望。

 

例句一：我想要一台新電腦

 

例句二：小美想要一個男朋友，所以開始玩交友軟體。

 

 

這邊要注意的是，「想要」並沒有如「想」一樣的「想念」或「思考「的意思，「想要」的核心意義完全在「要」字身上，「想」只是讓「要」的動機更強烈、意志更堅定而已。這是「想要」跟「想」差別最大的不同之處。

 

 

另外，「想」作動詞單用的時候，多是用來陳述思考事情，若是其他如「人」、「地方」、「事物」則多會用「想念」，這個詞的介紹不在本次的討論範圍，我們就先不介紹了。