Level 4 · Lesson 12

我想去，我要去
I'd like to go, I'm going to go

我想去公园。我打算去买东西，我需要一件新衣服。

想 for what you feel like doing, 要 for what you intend to do — plus 需要, 希望 and 打算.

听 · Listen

星期六
 李明 —  星期六你想去哪儿？ 
Where would you like to go on Saturday?  
 安娜 —  我想去公园。你呢？ 
I'd like to go to the park. And you?  
 李明 —  我打算去买东西。我需要一件新衣服。 
I'm planning to go shopping. I need a new piece of clothing.  
 安娜 —  你要去哪个商店？ 
Which shop are you going to?  
 李明 —  学校前边的那个。 
The one in front of the school.  
 安娜 —  我不想买衣服，我想在公园看书。 
I don't feel like buying clothes; I'd like to read in the park.  
 李明 —  星期天下午我要去学校。 
On Sunday afternoon I'm going to school.  
 安娜 —  我希望星期天不下雨。 
I hope it doesn't rain on Sunday.  

讲解 · Explanation

我想去公园。

想 is the soft one: 'I'd like to', 'I feel like'. Like 能 and 可以 it stands in front of the main verb and takes the whole verb phrase with it. The same 想 is also an ordinary verb meaning 'to think' and 'to miss someone' — 我想我妈妈 (wǒ xiǎng wǒ māma) 'I miss my mother' — so context tells you which one you are hearing.

星期天下午我要去学校。

要 is the firm one: the decision is made. 我想去 says you would like to go; 我要去 says you are going. 要 also works as a plain verb of wanting a thing — 我要一杯茶 (wǒ yào yì bēi chá) 'I'll have a cup of tea' — which is exactly how you order in a shop or a restaurant.

我不想买衣服。

To say you do not feel like doing something, negate 想: 不想. Do not reach for 不要 here — 不要 is a prohibition, 'don't!', and it is the subject of the very next lesson. And never 没想去 for a plan: 想 and 要 describe an attitude, not an event, so they take 不. Alongside them, 需要 is 'need', 希望 is 'hope' and 打算 is 'plan to' — all three sit in the same slot before the verb, and 需要 may also take a plain noun: 我需要一件新衣服.

生词 · Vocabulary

词	Meaning	注 · Note
想	would like to; to think; to miss	我想去公园 — negative 不想
要	to want; to be going to	firmer than 想: the decision is made
需要	to need	takes a thing or a verb: 我需要一件新衣服
希望	to hope	我希望明天不下雨
打算	to plan to	我打算去买东西 — 买东西 mǎi dōngxi is 'to shop'

练习 · Practice

今天我不去公园。 Which sentence means 'I don't feel like going'?

我 ______ 一件新衣服。 You need one. Which word takes a plain noun here?

我 ______ 星期天不下雨。 Fill in 'hope'.

排一排。 Arrange the words: 'I'm planning to go shopping.'

想、要、需要、希望、打算 Match each word to its meaning.

用一用 · Use it

星期六我想去…… 星期天我要去……

Say your weekend out loud in four sentences, one word each: 我想去 (something you'd enjoy), 我要去 (something already decided), 我打算 (a plan you have made), 我希望 (a wish about the weather or about a friend). Then add the one thing you don't feel like doing — 我不想…… — and hear how different it is from a command.