What does 要 mean in Chinese?

要 (yào) means "important; vital; to want; to ask for; will; going to (as future auxiliary); may; must; (used in a comparison) must be; probably; if" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 1.

How do you pronounce 要?

要 is pronounced "yào" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 4.

What HSK level is 要?

要 is an HSK 1 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 2 on the old exam, HSK 1 on the new one.

What words contain the character 要?

Common words with 要 include 主要 (main), 只要 (if only), 不要 (don't!), 不要紧 (unimportant), 偏要 (to insist on doing sth).

How do you write 要?

要 has 9 strokes. Its radical is 覀. You can view the stroke order animation on our stroke order tool.

要 (yào), important

要

yào

important; vital; to want; to ask for

HSK 1 Was HSK 2verb9 strokes

Character Breakdown

要 = 覀 + 女

A woman under a cover — wanting shelter

Radical: 覀 (no. 146)Strokes: 9

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb) important
vital
to want
to ask for
will
going to (as future auxiliary)
may
must
(used in a comparison) must be
probably
if

Example Sentences

我想要一杯水。

Wǒ xiǎng yào yī bēi shuǐ

I want a glass of water

Words Containing 要

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
主要	zhǔ yào	main	HSK 3
只要	zhǐ yào	if only	HSK 3
不要	bù yào	don't!	HSK 1
不要紧	bù yào jǐn	unimportant	HSK 5

→

鱼与熊掌(yú yǔ xióng zhǎng)· lit. the fish and the bear's paw, you can't have both at the same time (idiom, from Mencius); fig. you must choose one or the other

→

鱼与熊掌不可兼得(yú yǔ xióng zhǎng bù kě jiān dé)· lit. the fish and the bear's paw, you can't have both at the same time (idiom, from Mencius); fig. you must choose one or the other

→

将会(jiāng huì)· auxiliary verb introducing future action: may (be able to)

→

Grammar Notes

Expressing "Want" with 想HSK 1

Subject + 想 + Verb + Object

From...To (从...到)HSK 2

从 + Starting Point + 到 + Ending Point

Double 不 for EmphasisHSK 2

不 A 不 B OR 不...不 + Verb

就 and 才 (Then/Only then)HSK 2

Subject + (Time/Condition) + 就/才 + Verb

把 ConstructionHSK 3

Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Complement/Result

Appears in these articles

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 1
HSK 2.0: HSK 2
HSK Lord study list: HSK 1 list

要: HSK 2 on the old exam, HSK 1 on the new one. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 1 exam

Studying for HSK 1? Keep 要 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 1 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.

要