How to Say ‘Should we’ in Simplified Chinese
要不要
yào bù yào
[yaow-boo-yaow]
💬 Usage Tip: [要不要] is a very common way to make a suggestion: literally "want-not-want," but often best translated as "shall we" or "do you want to." You can reuse it with another action, like [要不要过去坐].
🇨🇳 In China: [要不要] sounds softer and less pushy than a direct command, which makes it a good flirting move. It leaves the other person an easy out, which usually lands better in a bar setting.
Phrase Breakdown
要不要
yào bù yào
[yaow-boo-yaow]
do you want to...?; how about...?
A soft, common way to make a suggestion or invitation.
要不要去那边坐一下？
Do you want to go sit over there for a bit?
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