HSK 2Verbs

要 for Want/Will

要 expresses wanting to do something or something about to happen.

Pattern

Subject + 要 + Verb / Subject + 要 + Verb + 了

要 has two main meanings: (1) want/wish — "我要喝水" (I want to drink water); (2) will/about to — "他要走了" (He is about to leave).

Negate "want" with 不想 (not 不要, which sounds like a command). Negate future with 不会.

我要喝咖啡。

Wǒ yào hē kāfēi.

I want to drink coffee.

快要下雨了。

Kuài yào xià yǔ le.

It's about to rain.

我明天要去上海。

Wǒ míngtiān yào qù Shànghǎi.

I'm going to Shanghai tomorrow.

Wrong

我不要喝咖啡。

Correct

我不想喝咖啡。

Use 不想 (don't want), not 不要 (which means "don't!").

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