HSK 2
要 / 想 / 打算: Want and Plan in Chinese
想, 要, and 打算 all point to the future but differ in strength. 想 is "would like to" — a wish (我想去中国). 要 is "want to / will" — a firm intention (我要买那本书). 打算 is "plan to" — a considered plan (我打算明年去). For a neutral "don't want to", 不想 is usually clearer; 不要 can sound like a refusal or a command depending on context.
STRUCTURE
想 want, 要 will, 打算 plan to
When to use 想/要/打算 — and when not
Use it when
- 想 for a wish or "would like to": 我想喝咖啡。
- 要 for a firm want or near intention: 我要走了。
- 打算 for a plan you've made: 我打算学中文。
Don't use it when
- Using 不要 for a neutral "don't want to" without context — 不想 is clearer; 不要 can also express a strong refusal or a command。
- 很 before 要 — intensify a wish with 很想: 我很想去, not 我很要去。
- Using 没想 for a current wish — 我没想去 can mean "I hadn't intended to go"; a present lack of desire is 我不想去。
Right vs. wrong
我明年去中国打算。
我打算明年去中国。
打算 placed after the planned action
打算 is a modal-like verb and comes before the action being planned. Put it before the time and action: 我打算明年去中国。
我很要这本书。
我很想要这本书。
很 placed before 要
要 alone doesn't take the degree adverb 很. To stress a strong wish, use 很想 or 很想要: 我很想要这本书。
Examples
我想喝咖啡。
Wǒ xiǎng hē kāfēi.
I'd like to drink coffee.
我要买那本书。
Wǒ yào mǎi nà běn shū.
I want to buy that book.
我打算明年去中国。
Wǒ dǎsuàn míngnián qù Zhōngguó.
I plan to go to China next year.
你想去哪儿?
Nǐ xiǎng qù nǎr?
Where do you want to go?
我不想去。
Wǒ bù xiǎng qù.
I don't want to go.
Common mistakes
我明年去中国打算。
Wǒ míngnián qù Zhōngguó dǎsuàn.
打算 goes before the planned action: 我打算明年去中国。
我很要这本书。
Wǒ hěn yào zhè běn shū.
Use 很想要 to stress a wish: 我很想要这本书。
我打算想明年去中国。
Wǒ dǎsuàn xiǎng míngnián qù Zhōngguó.
Do not stack 打算 and 想 for one plan: 我打算明年去中国。
Think you've got it?
Write your own 想/要/打算 sentence and check that grammar point first.
要 / 想 / 打算: Want and Plan FAQ
What is the difference between 想 and 要?
想 is softer — "would like to" (我想去). 要 is firmer — "want to / will" (我要去). For polite requests, 想 sounds better; 要 can sound demanding.
How do I say "I don't want to"?
Use 不想 for the neutral meaning: 我不想去. 不要 can be grammatical as a strong refusal ("I won't go") or as part of a command, so its meaning depends more heavily on context.
When do I use 打算?
For a plan you've thought about, especially with a time frame: 我打算下个月搬家 (I plan to move next month). It's more concrete than a passing wish with 想.