Hi Mark!

Thank you for your question! 😊 Let's clarify the use of "want" in Chinese:

1. 想 (xiǎng) - This is used to express a desire or wish. For example, "我想吃苹果" (Wǒ xiǎng chī píngguǒ) means "I want to eat an apple."

2. 要 (yào) - This can mean "want" or "need" and is often used for stronger intentions or decisions. For example, "我要去学校" (Wǒ yào qù xuéxiào) means "I want to go to school" or "I am going to school."

3. 需要 (xū yào) - This means "need" and is used when something is necessary. For example, "我需要水" (Wǒ xū yào shuǐ) means "I need water."

Each verb has its context, and with practice, you'll get a good feel for when to use each one. Keep practicing, and you'll master them in no time! 如果有任何问题，请告诉我们。(Rúguǒ yǒu rènhé wèntí, qǐng gàosù wǒmen. "If you have any questions, please let us know.")

谢谢！(Xièxiè! "Thank you!")

Team ChineseClass101.com

I appologize if you have answered or if there is a lesson on this.

Please help me distinguish when using the verb "want"

In this lesson, you use xiang and yao

Is there a specific instance when we use:

xiang

yao

xu yao

Thank you,

Mark

Hello Nolan,

Thank you for your comment! 👍

If you have any questions, please let us know.

Ngai

Team ChineseClass101.com

it's a very clear lesson 👍

你好 robert groulx！

不用谢。(Bú yòng xiè.) = No need for thanks. You're welcome. 😇

谢谢 (Xièxie) for studying with us, it's great to have you here!

Let us know if you have any questions.

Kind regards,

雷文特 (Levente)

Team ChineseClass101.com

thank you for the lesson transcript

favorite phrase is 我想上网看新闻.

robert

Hello Linh,

Thank you for your comment.

新闻 is the 'news' you get from the media, such as TV, newspapers etc. 消息 is the 'news', information or messages you get from families and friends.

For example:

我有一个好消息要告诉你。I have good news for you.

你看到关于台风的新闻吗？Did you see the news about typhoons?

As always, let us know if you have any questions.

Ngai Lam

Team ChineseClass101.com

Hello Chineseclass101,

Can you please help me to know the diffirencies btw 新闻 and 消息

Thank you so much.

Hi, Joe,

Thank you for your posting.

I think it is good to review again and again until you can master it perfectly for language learning.

And if you go up to the master level, why not move on to the intermediate section?

Chanllege is important, too.:smile:

Cho

Team ChineseClass101.com

Hello,

I was looking at some of the Beginner Lessons once I have finished the absolute beginner series, and a lot of the material looks to be the same. Once I have finished all the relevant materials in the Absolute Beginner Seasons, should I move on to the Intermediate section?

Joe

Hi Erik,

We don't say 我要报纸买, it not correct in grammar. I

n Chinese, if a verb is used with a noun to express an action, the noun should be put after the verb. In the phrase 买报纸, 买 is a transitive verb and 报纸 is its object.

For the sentence "You can buy the ticket at the train station" which ends with 买 in Chinese, I think the translation is 你可以在车站买。 Here 买 is used as an intransitive verb, it omitted its obeject 票. Or the translation could also be 票可以在车站买。In this case, its structure is a different from above. In grammar, it is actually 票是可以在车站买的。You can see that 票 is used as the subject in this sentence, therefore, it's ok for 票 to be put before the verb 买. But in the sentence 我要买报纸, the subject is 我 not 报纸, that's why your sentence doesn't make sense.

Chloe

Team ChineseClass101.com

In your example you use, 我要买报纸, wǒ yāo mǎi bàozhǐ, ( I want buy newspaper). Is is also proper to say, 我要报纸买, wǒ yào bàozhǐ mǎi, ( I want newspaper buy)? In an earlier lesson about buying a train ticket at the train station, it was "You can buy the ticket at the train station", with the 买 ending the sentence. It was similar to this: 你可以票在火车站买, nǐ kěyǐ piào zài huǒchē zhàn mǎi.

Thanks for the clarification.