Vocab Question Difference between

[Northern_Lights]

Sorry if this is covered before or if this is in the wrong place. I am just wondering if there is a major difference or if the difference is more styleisitic between 想 and 要? I am begining to learn and it seems the two maybe interchangeable?

[renzhe]

Well, both of those have many different meanings, and usage will heavily depend on context. It might help to learn other meanings of both words to get a feeling. 想 primarily means to think about something, 要 means "want".

One situation where you could use either involves expressing that you want something. In this case, 要 is a bit more forceful (I want that) than 想 (I'd like that).

[Northern_Lights]

So both of these secentese would be proper useage? Just 要 is more forece or direct?

我要喝一点儿可口可乐.

我想喝一点儿可口可乐

[renzhe]

If you are making a request, yes. As in, you want somebody to bring you a Coke. 要 is a more forceful request.

In a different context, 要 can mean a firm plan, or even future tense (I will drink some coke), while 想 might simply express a desire (even if you don't expect that there is coke).

Can you give a bit more context? What were you taught that 要 and 想 mean, and how were you taught to use them?

[Northern_Lights]

I was taught both me "want". The various methods I use have only given "want" as the meaning, but I was unclear on how would I ask for a pack of cigarettes at a corner market or something like that. I have even see the construct 我想要 as a way of making a request. Mostly just trying to learn how to express desire, and if it is expressed different than making a request.

[li3wei1]

要 can also mean 'need' or 'must'. But for buying things, I'd probably use 要 rather than 想 or 想要.

[tooironic]

我要... = "I want..."

我想... = "I'd like to..." (or "I think...", depending on context)

When asking for things many Chinese just say 我要... or 来一个...

想要 is a textbooky word, and not all that common in real-life (though note it does have the additional meaning of "horny").

[imron]

but I was unclear on how would I ask for a pack of cigarettes at a corner market or something like that

In this sort of situation, I think it's more common to use the 来 construct, e.g. something like '老板你好，来一盒 <brand name of cigarettes>'.

(though note it does have the additional meaning of "horny").

That depends quite a lot on context.

[Ruben von Zwack]

'老板你好，来一盒 <brand name of cigarettes>'.

How would I adress a female shop keeper or shop assistant in that situation?

And would I use different adresses depending on my own gender?

[imron]

In northern China at least, 老板娘 works for female shop keeper. If it wasn't the owner of the place, I might just go with 你好 and no title.

[Kenny同志]

Usually I'd skip 你好, and just go with 老闆，買XX, for example 老闆，買一包鹽.

Edit: I suppose that the 來+classifier+noun structure is more a northern thing. And as I don't smoke, I used a new example.

[Ruben von Zwack]

At Popup Chinese, I also heard "给我 (Object)", for example "给我一瓶冰水". They said in Chinese it doesn't sound as abrupt as in English.

[Kenny同志]

This expression sounds abrupt to me. I have never used it.

[Ruben von Zwack]

Interesting! Thank you Kenny. I was asking, cause I will go to (northern) China for the first time soon. I'll stick with 买 / 買 and 来 / 來 then. I do intend to sound friendly!

[Northern_Lights]

给我.. Does not sound that abrubt. The same construction would be used in English and Malay. Should 对不起 be added. So as to use 对不起给我. ?

[Ruben von Zwack]

I'm just a beginner in Chinese, but 对不起 is a serious apology. Literally meaning something like "Impossible to make this (the wrong I did) right again". The way I understand it, there's no need to add that to a normal question, it would even be odd.

For "normal" apologies I hear people say 不好意思. But again, no need to apologise for wanting to buy something

[Northern_Lights]

I'm just a beginner in Chinese, but 对不起 is a serious apology. Literally meaning something like "Impossible to make this (the wrong I did) right again". The way I understand it, there's no need to add that to a normal question, it would even be odd.

For "normal" apologies I hear people say 不好意思. But again, no need to apologise for wanting to buy something

Ok I was under the impression it could also mean "Excuse me"

[Ruben von Zwack]

Ah, no. I initially thought that too, but Chinese people told me it's so stiff and grave, unless you did something really terrible, stick with "不好意思" (~ I'm embarrassed) to apologise, and "请问, ...?" (May I ask, please) to start a conversation, and everyone's suggestions above: "(title) 你好, ...?"

[roddy]

Covered before?

http://www.chinese-f...9-想-vs-要-vs-想要/

http://www.chinese-f...ween-我要-and-我想/

http://www.chinese-f.../37001-要，想，想要。/

http://www.chinese-f...ang-想-vs-yao-要/

http://www.chinese-f...我想-，我要-，-我想要-？/

http://www.chinese-f...-want-someting/

Once or twice...

[Kenny同志]

Thank you Kenny. I was asking, cause I will go to (northern) China for the first time soon. I'll stick with 买 / 買 and 来 / 來 then. I do intend to sound friendly!

No problem, Ruben. For what it's worth, sometimes after having eye contact with the shopkeeper, I just go with (老闆)+ what I want, for example, (老闆，)一瓶礦泉水. 老闆 is optional.