Expressing "Want" with 想

想 (xiǎng) is one of the first modal verbs you learn in Chinese. Place it before another verb to express "want to" or "would like to": "我想吃饭" (wǒ xiǎng chī fàn, "I want to eat"). The structure is straightforward — Subject + 想 + Verb + Object.

想 has a polite, soft tone. It expresses a wish or desire rather than a strong demand. Compare it with 要 (yào), which also means "want" but is more assertive and direct. "我想喝水" (I'd like to drink some water) is a gentle request, while "我要喝水" (I want water) is more forceful. In everyday conversation, 想 is often the safer, more polite choice, especially when talking to people you don't know well.

To negate 想, use 不想: "我不想去" (wǒ bù xiǎng qù, "I don't want to go"). To ask about someone's wishes, simply add 吗 or use a question word: "你想吃什么？" (nǐ xiǎng chī shénme, "What do you want to eat?"). Note that 想 can also mean "to think" or "to miss" in other contexts, but at the HSK 1 level, its primary use is "want to."