要 (yào) — to want, to need; used before a verb to express intention or a future event
Definition
要 covers two main jobs: 'want/need' (我要一杯水 = I want a glass of water) and 'be going to' before a verb to mark a future event. For 'must' in spoken Chinese use 得 (děi); 必要要 can mean 'must' but is stronger and more formal.
verb
to wantto needused before a verb to express intention or a future event
Examples
- 要。Wǒ yào yì bēi shuǐ.I want a glass of water.
- 要？Nǐ yào chī píng guǒ ma?Do you want to eat an apple?
- 要。Tā yào mǎi yì běn shū.She wants to buy a book.
Grammar
Appears in
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