“To want/would like (to do something)”: xiǎng - Cchatty

“To want/would like (to do something)”: xiǎng 想 vs. yào 要 vs. xiǎngyào 想要

When you say you want something, whether a concrete object like a car or something abstract like friendship, you cannot use xiǎng 想. When the word “want” is followed by a noun, you must use either yào 要 or xiǎngyào 想要.

I’d like a bottle of beer.
✔ CC: Wǒ yào yìpíng píjiǔ.
我要一瓶啤酒。

OR:
✔ CC: Wǒ xiǎngyào yìpíng píjiǔ.
我想要一瓶啤酒。
✖ BC: Wǒ xiǎng yìpíng píjiǔ.
我想一瓶啤酒。

I am thinking of a bottle of beer” rather than thinking of anything else!

She wants a handsome boyfriend.
✔ CC: Tā yào yíge yīngjùnde nánpéngyou.
她要一个英俊的男朋友。

OR:
✔ CC: Tā xiǎngyào yíge yīngjùnde nánpéngyou.
她想要一个英俊的男朋友。
✖ BC: Tā xiǎng yíge yīngjùnde nánpéngyou.
她想一个英俊的男朋友。
She is thinking of a handsome boyfriend.

BUT, when you want or would like to do something, i.e., when the word “want” is followed by a verb, you may use xiǎng 想 as a softer, more polite way to say yào 要:

I’d like to drink a bottle of beer.
Wǒ xiǎng hē yìpíng píjiǔ.
我想喝一瓶啤酒。

She’d like to find a handsome boyfriend.
Tā xiǎng zhǎo yíge yīngjùnde nánpéngyou.
她想找一个英俊的男朋友。

ALSO, be aware that when you use yào 要 to tell someone you want something, it is tantamount to a direct command. You may say to a waiter:

I want (a) broccoli beef.
Wǒ yào yíge jièlán niúròu.
我要一个芥兰牛肉 。

BUT it would soften your wishes and be more polite to say:

I would like (a) broccoli beef.
Wǒ xiǎngyào yíge jièlán niúròu.
我想要一个芥兰牛肉 。