How to Say ‘Want to’ in Traditional Chinese
想要
xiǎng yào
[shyang yow]
💬 Usage Tip: [想要] is a little stronger and more direct than just [想]. For polite requests in service situations, both work, but [想] can sound a bit lighter: [我想訂位] vs. [我想要靠窗的位子].
Phrase Breakdown
想要
xiǎng yào
[shyang yow]
want; would like
Used to express what you want in a direct but natural way.
我想要靠窗的位子，看夜景比較方便。
I want a window seat, so it’s easier to enjoy the night view.
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