HSK Guide

想 xiǎng — to want to, would like to

xiǎng (third tone, dipping)xiang3

to want to, would like to

HSK 1· HSK 1–4 (classic)Level 1· Three-band, nine-level standardverb
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Meanings

  1. to want to, would like to

    A wish or intention, always followed by a verb: 想去, 想吃, 想买. It is softer and more tentative than 要, which states a firm demand.

    verb

  2. to think; to miss (someone)

    verb

    With a person as its object, 想 means to miss them: 我很想我妈妈.

Character breakdown

  • 想
    xiǎng (third tone, dipping)

    to think, to reflect; to want to, to would like to; to miss someone

    13 strokes⿱相心Radical 心

Example sentences

  • 我想去中国。我想去中國。Wǒ (third tone, dipping) xiǎng (third tone, dipping) qù (fourth tone, falling) Zhōngguó. (first tone, high and level)···

    I’d like to go to China.

  • 我很想我妈妈。我很想我媽媽。Wǒ (third tone, dipping) hěn (third tone, dipping) xiǎng (third tone, dipping) wǒ (third tone, dipping) māma. (first tone, high and level)···

    I miss my mum a lot.

Common mistakes

  • Not quite我想水。

    Correct我想喝水。

    When 想 means "would like", a verb must follow it. 想 with a noun straight after it means "to think of" or "to miss", so 我想水 reads as missing the water.

Similar words

Words containing 想