<p>要 has more certainty or confidence than 想 in tone.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-18T15:37:48.067Z
So, 我要厺 is more like `I will go` and 我想厺 more like `I really want to go but I don't know when or how` ?
gustavotkg
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-18T15:52:33.313Z
That's correct.
Bruce Li
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-18T16:00:58.200Z
And how about these two together?
gustavotkg
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-19T00:33:47.227Z
想要 = 想 in tone，but usually used to request someone else to do something. For example 我想要你帮我做一件事情。
Bruce Li
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-18T15:16:02.743Z
2011-12-18T15:16:02.743Z
Bruce Li
<p>想 means you 'want to do' something , but maybe you would not to do it, just think about it.
要 means you 'will do' something  and it have been put in your schedule</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-23T09:24:59.163Z
2011-12-23T09:24:59.163Z
Griffin  Li
<p>要 usually means &quot;want&quot;, but there are a few possible definitions to 想, 想 may possibly mean &quot;think&quot;, or another possible definition is &quot;want&quot;.
Some examples:
我想去购物商场。
我要去购物商场。
我想要去购物商场。
When compared, 要 has more confidence in tone compared to 想.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-11T06:56:48.553Z
2021-01-11T06:56:48.553Z
thelegendary08
<p>The way I differentiate between these two is using "want" and "need".</p>

<p>In English "need" still means "want to", but there is an added necessity.</p>

<p>This is apparent in the following two sentences:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>我想吃饭</p>
</blockquote>

<p><em>I want to eat</em></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>我要吃饭</p>
</blockquote>

<p><em>I need to eat</em></p>

<p>You will also hear people using 需要 (Xūyào) to indicate need, so just think of 要 as a shortened version of that:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>你需要我做什么？</p>
</blockquote>

<p><em>What do you need me to do</em></p>

<p>想要 is interchangeable with 想 in most uses.</p>

<p>Also worth noting is 要 can be used to indicate "going to":</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>你为什么想把它弄坏了？</p>
</blockquote>

<p><em>Why do you want to break it?</em></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>你为什么要把它弄坏了？</p>
</blockquote>

<p><em>Why are you going to break it?</em></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>你为什么想去他家？</p>
</blockquote>

<p><em>Why do you want to go to (his/her) house?</em></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>你为什么要去他家？</p>
</blockquote>

<p><em>Why are you going to (his/her) house?</em></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-19T08:40:02.727Z
Is 需要 alway interchangeable with 要, or are there some rules about that?
Cocowalla
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-19T09:27:54.113Z
@Cocowalla - They are interchangeable.
going
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-13T02:42:28.877Z
I think it comes down to the difference between intention and desire. 要 indicates an intention i.e. that the action is certain to be conducted in the future, whereas 想 indicates simply an abstract desire for that action be done. 我想吃饭 indeed means "I want to eat," but I would say 我要吃饭 means something closer to "I am going to eat" -- the desire is implicit, and the intent is very clear.
Marko
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-19T01:43:01.557Z
2011-12-19T01:43:01.557Z
going
<p>I know both of them mean "want to" but have usage in different contexts. When should I use each one?</p>

<p>For example:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>我要去上海市 and 我想去上海市 </p>
</blockquote>

<p>What's the difference in the meaning between them?</p>

<p>Also, I've seen these two characters together in some sentences. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>我想要去上海市 </p>
</blockquote>

<p>When they're together, is there a third context?</p>

<word-choice><vocabulary>
Difference between 想 and 要?
# Difference between 想 and 要?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2011-12-18)

I know both of them mean "want to" but have usage in different contexts. When should I use each one?

For example:

> 我要去上海市 and 我想去上海市

What's the difference in the meaning between them?

Also, I've seen these two characters together in some sentences.

> 我想要去上海市

When they're together, is there a third context?

**Tags:** word-choice, vocabulary


---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2011-12-19. Score: 10 | Accepted answer

The way I differentiate between these two is using "want" and "need".

In English "need" still means "want to", but there is an added necessity.

This is apparent in the following two sentences:

> 我想吃饭

*I want to eat*

> 我要吃饭

*I need to eat*

You will also hear people using 需要 (Xūyào) to indicate need, so just think of 要 as a shortened version of that:

> 你需要我做什么？

*What do you need me to do*

想要 is interchangeable with 想 in most uses.

Also worth noting is 要 can be used to indicate "username_4 to":

> 你为什么想把它弄坏了？

*Why do you want to break it?*

> 你为什么要把它弄坏了？

*Why are you username_4 to break it?*

> 你为什么想去他家？

*Why do you want to go to (his/her) house?*

> 你为什么要去他家？

*Why are you username_4 to (his/her) house?*

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: Is 需要 alway interchangeable with 要, or are there some rules about that?  
> **username_4**: @username_5 - They are interchangeable.  
> **username_6**: I think it comes down to the difference between intention and desire. 要 indicates an intention i.e. that the action is certain to be conducted in the future, whereas 想 indicates simply an abstract desire for that action be done. 我想吃饭 indeed means "I want to eat," but I would say 我要吃饭 means something closer to "I am username_4 to eat" -- the desire is implicit, and the intent is very clear.  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2011-12-18. Score: 3

要 has more certainty or confidence than 想 in tone.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: So, 我要厺 is more like `I will go` and 我想厺 more like `I really want to go but I don't know when or how` ?  
> **username_1**: That's correct.  
> **username_0**: And how about these two together?  
> **username_1**: 想要 = 想 in tone，but usually used to request someone else to do something. For example 我想要你帮我做一件事情。  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2011-12-23. Score: 3

想 means you 'want to do' something , but maybe you would not to do it, just think about it.
要 means you 'will do' something and it have been put in your schedule


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### Answer by username_3 on 2021-01-11. Score: 1

要 usually means "want", but there are a few possible definitions to 想, 想 may possibly mean "think", or another possible definition is "want".
Some examples:
我想去购物商场。
我要去购物商场。
我想要去购物商场。
When compared, 要 has more confidence in tone compared to 想.


---

