Traditional Chinese course

Lesson 21 of 240

New here? This is lesson 21 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.

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I want in Traditional Chinese

Maya stops at Banyan Breakfast on her way to work. Auntie Lin asks what she wants, but Maya really needs a napkin.

A-Li sits beside his unfinished soy milk, trying to ask for his usual without naming it. The fortune slip stays folded in the till.

Learn the difference between wanting and needing, ask what someone wants or needs, and make a direct request. A-Li's drink is still not finished.

By the end of this lesson

Say what you want or need, ask what someone wants or needs, and make a direct request.

  • 我要___I want ___.
  • 我需要___I need ___.
  • 你要什麼？What do you want?
  • 我不想要___I don't want ___.
  • 你需要___嗎？Do you need ___?
  • 給我___Give me ___.

Scene — a napkin at breakfast

Morning light falls across the counter at Banyan Breakfast. A-Li sits on two stools beside his unfinished soy milk, searching for the words for his usual.

Maya knows exactly what she needs: a napkin. Auntie Lin helps both customers, while the folded fortune slip stays tucked away in the till.

Ali searches for his usual beside unfinished soy milk as Maya looks for a napkin and Auntie Lin helps them.

Learn — saying what you want

Use 要 for what you want and 需要 for what you need. Listen for the difference, then practice a direct request.

The expressions are short chunks; say them as whole pieces.

  1. Ali asks for an egg pancake while sitting beside his unfinished soy milk.

    我要___

    I want ___.

    When to use it: Use this to say what you want.

    Learn it as one piece.

    Say it: 要 has a falling tone.

  2. Maya indicates that she needs a napkin by pointing toward the dispenser.

    我需要___

    I need ___.

    When to use it: Use this to say what you need.

    Learn it as one piece.

  3. Auntie Lin asks Ali what he wants while he considers the breakfast choices.

    你要什麼？

    What do you want?

    When to use it: Ask someone what they want.

    Learn it as one piece.

  4. Ali politely declines more soy milk and gestures toward his unfinished cup.

    我不想要___

    I don't want ___.

    When to use it: Use this to say you do not want something.

    Learn it as one piece.

    Say it: 不 has a falling tone before 想.

  5. Auntie Lin offers Maya a napkin with a helpful questioning gesture.

    你需要___嗎？

    Do you need ___?

    When to use it: Ask someone whether they need something.

    Learn it as one piece.

  6. Maya reaches toward the napkin dispenser to request a napkin.

    給我___

    Give me ___.

    When to use it: Use this direct request when asking for something.

    Learn it as one piece.

Story — the usual, please

At Banyan Breakfast, Maya asks for a napkin while A-Li struggles to name his usual. Auntie Lin checks whether either of them needs anything else.

  1. Maya你好。Hello.
  2. Auntie Lin你要什麼？What do you want?
  3. Maya我要衛生紙。I want a napkin.
  4. Maya我需要衛生紙。I need a napkin.
  5. Auntie Lin你需要衛生紙嗎？Do you need a napkin?
  6. Maya給我衛生紙。Give me a napkin.
  7. Auntie Lin你要什麼？What do you want?
  8. A-Li我要老樣子。I'll have my usual.
  9. Auntie Lin你需要豆漿嗎？Do you need soy milk?
  10. A-Li我不想要豆漿。I don't want soy milk.

Practice — wants and needs

Try ten quick exercises about wants and needs at the breakfast counter. Choose the useful line for each small situation.

After each answer, check the explanation and try saying the line again.

0 of 11 done

  1. What does it mean?

    我要___

  2. What do you say?

    Auntie Lin asks what happened after you spill soy milk. Tell her you need a napkin to clean it up.

  3. Build the line

    What do you want?

    ？

    Tap the words in order.

  4. Match the pairs

    Traditional Chinese

    我要___Drop the English here
    你要什麼？Drop the English here
    你好Drop the English here
    謝謝Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Traditional Chinese, or tap one and then the other.

  5. What did you hear?

  6. What do you say?

    Auntie Lin offers more soy milk. Say that you do not want it.

  7. Pick the reply

    Auntie Lin says:

    你要什麼？

    What do you want?

    And you reply with:

  8. What do you say?

    Auntie Lin greets you at the counter. Say hello.

  9. What does it mean?

    我需要___

  10. What do you say?

    Auntie Lin hands you the napkin. Thank her.

  11. What did you hear?

Say it — make your request

You play Maya at Banyan Breakfast. Listen to each cue, then say what you want or need, and ask for the napkin.

Tap the microphone to speak. You can replay the other person's line before your turn.

  1. Maya arrives at the counter and Auntie Lin asks what she wants.
  2. Auntie Lin你要什麼？What do you want?
  3. Maya (you)Say that you want a napkin.

    我要___

    I want ___.

0 of 3 said

Recap — what you can say now

Traditional ChineseEnglish
我要___I want ___.
我需要___I need ___.
你要什麼？What do you want?
我不想要___I don't want ___.
你需要___嗎？Do you need ___?
給我___Give me ___.
Next: lesson 22No thanks, that's enough

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