Download the complete cheat sheet: Are you confused by the Chinese word 要 (yào)? It's one of the most common but also most versatile characters in the language, meaning everything from "want" and "will" to "must" and "don't." Getting it right is a major step toward sounding more natural and fluent. In today’s episode, I break down 8 essential functions of this tricky character with clear, real-world examples. By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to use every form of 要 with total confidence. In this episode, you will learn: 00:00 Intro 00:40 1. Future Plan (general and objective): 将要 01:19 2. Future Plan (immediacy and excitement) 就要 02:54 3. To Want: a simple want (想要) 03:46 4. To Want: a stubborn insistence (非要) 05:29 5. Must / Should: 要 06:30 6. Don't!: 不要 07:24 7. How About...? 要不 07:50 8. Otherwise...: 要不 08:33 9. Either... Or...: 要么...要么... 09:22 How do I know which要is used?? HAVE QUESTIONS? If you have any questions about this lesson or have suggestions for future videos, I'd love to hear from you! The best way to reach me is to leave a comment below—I read every one! Website: Email: nihao@ Thanks for watching, and don't forget to subscribe for more lessons that get your Chinese real-world ready! Download a free printable PDF of 30 practical Chinese phrases you'll actually use: #LearnChinese #MandarinChinese #ChineseGrammar #要 #yào #HSK #MandarinLesson