Want to actually learn this — with audio, spaced repetition and progress tracking?

Study in the app →

Help improve this content. If something looks off, let us know →

Mandarin Chinese · HSK 3.0 Band 1 · Chapter 19

我想吃饺子 I want dumplings

Wǒ xiǎng chī jiǎozi

Ordering food. Foods, meals, the modal 想. Introduces 大友.

我想吃饺子 — I want dumplings

  1. 大友 hǎo! xiǎngchīshénme? Hi! What would you like?
  2. 文山 xiǎngchījiǎo. xiǎngchīmiàntiáoér. Dumplings, please. And noodles too.
  3. 大友 dōuyàojiǎomiàntiáoérma? Both dumplings and noodles?
  4. 文山 shì. háiyàobāo. duōshǎoqián? Yes. Plus one bun. How much?
  5. 大友 duō. xiānchī, huìershuō. Not much. Eat first, we'll talk later.

早饭午饭晚饭 — Three meals

  1. 白月 wénshān, zǎofànchīlema? Did you eat breakfast?
  2. 文山 méichī. zhōngxiǎngchīfàn. No. I want lunch at noon.
  3. 白月 menchī! xiǎngchīshénme? Let's eat together! What do you want?
  4. 文山 xiǎngchīshuǐguǒròu. Fruit and meat.
  5. 白月 hǎo! yàoniúnǎi. OK! I want milk too.
汉字PinyinPOSMeaning
饺子 jiǎozi n. dumpling
包子 bāozi n. steamed bun
面条儿 miàntiáor n. noodles
牛奶 niúnǎi n. milk
水果 shuǐguǒ n. fruit
ròu n. meat
早饭 zǎo fàn n. breakfast
午饭 wǔ fàn n. lunch
晚饭 wǎn fàn n. dinner
吃饭 chī fàn v. to eat (a meal)
大友 Dà Yǒu pn. Da You (persona — market vendor)
汉字PinyinPOSMeaning
jiǎo (in 饺子 = dumpling) 饺子 jiǎozi — dumpling包饺子 bāo jiǎozi — wrap dumplings
tiáo (in 面条儿 = noodles) 面条儿 miàntiáor — noodles
qián money 多少钱 duōshao qián — how much (money)? — transactional opener付钱 fù qián — pay
guǒ fruit (in 水果) 水果 shuǐguǒ — fruit水果茶 shuǐguǒ chá — fruit tea如果 rúguǒ — if (conditional; pairs with 那 — 如果 X 那 Y)
ròu meat
niú cow 牛奶 niúnǎi — milk

miàn flour; face Writing

9 strokes enclosure

niú cow Writing

4 strokes standalone

ròu meat Writing

6 strokes enclosure

fàn meal; rice Writing

7 strokes left-right radical 饣

xiǎng want; think (revisit) Recognition

13 strokes top-bottom radical 心

guǒ fruit (in 水果) Recognition

8 strokes top-bottom

shuǐ water (revisit Bk1 ch10) Recognition

4 strokes standalone

chī eat (revisit Bk1 ch10) Recognition

6 strokes left-right radical 口

想 / 要 — 完整能愿动词 想 / 要 — full modal verbs

"想"和"要"都表达 "want" 但语气不同. 想 + V/N = "want / would like" — 软, 礼貌. 例: 我想吃饺子. 要 + V/N = "want / will" — 强, 直接. 例: 我要饺子. 否定: 不想 / 不要. 在饭店点菜: 我要 X / 我想 X 都可以.

想 and 要 both mean "want" but differ in tone. 想 = soft / polite ("would like"). 要 = firm ("will / want"). Negation: 不想 / 不要. At a restaurant, both forms work to order.

  • 我想吃饺子. Wǒ xiǎng chī jiǎozi. I would like dumplings.
  • 我要面条儿. Wǒ yào miàntiáor. I want noodles.
  • 你想喝牛奶吗? Nǐ xiǎng hē niúnǎi ma? Want some milk?
  • 我不要肉. Wǒ bú yào ròu. I don't want meat.

Want to actually learn this — with audio, spaced repetition and progress tracking?

Study in the app →

Report an issue

Spotted an error or have a suggestion? Every report helps us improve this content.