要
yào
to want; to ask for; to need
Every meaning
yào
- (in comparisons, 比…要…) even; still (adds emphasis to the comparison)
- if (as in 要是)
- must; should
- to want
- important; essential
- to ask for; to request
- will; going to
yāo
- to demand; to coerce (as in 要挟)
- surname Yao
In the Library
车要的是油。
车也要加油 · What does 加油 mean? · HSK 1
蒋先生要了包子，小彭给了他饺子。
“没关系”是我说的！ · What does 没关系 mean? · HSK 1
老人拿来两个盘子，坚持要她留下来吃蛋糕：“一个人吃不完。
长寿面 · Long-life noodles · HSK 3
Words with 要
Meanings are from Mandarin The Wild’s own dictionary. Levels follow the official HSK word list (the exam’s 2025 syllabus, levels 7–9 shown together).