要 / 想 / 打算: Want and Plan in Chinese
想/要/打算
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.
Published July 9, 2026
Reviewed July 9, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
想 want, 要 will, 打算 plan to
Read the structure
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. Keep the model 想 want, 要 will, 打算 plan to visible while you compare each sentence.
我想喝咖啡。
I'd like to drink coffee.
Choose the right context
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。
我要买那本书。
I want to buy that book.
Respect the boundary
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。
我明年去中国打算。
(I plan to go to China next year.)
Repair the pattern
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。 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。
我打算明年去中国。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
我想喝咖啡。
I'd like to drink coffee.
我想
想 want, 要 will, 打算 plan to
This part occupies the 想 want, 要 will, 打算 plan to position in the model pattern.
喝
想 want, 要 will, 打算 plan to
This part occupies the 想 want, 要 will, 打算 plan to position in the model pattern.
咖啡
想 want, 要 will, 打算 plan to
This part occupies the 想 want, 要 will, 打算 plan to position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
我想喝咖啡。
I'd like to drink coffee.
我要买那本书。
I want to buy that book.
我打算明年去中国。
I plan to go to China next year.
你想去哪儿?
Where do you want to go?
我不想去。
I don't want to go.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
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。
Do not 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。
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
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。
我明年去中国打算。
打算 goes before the planned action: 我打算明年去中国。
我很要这本书。
Use 很想要 to stress a wish: 我很想要这本书。
我打算想明年去中国。
Do not stack 打算 and 想 for one plan: 我打算明年去中国。
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 想/要/打算.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 想/要/打算. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
要 / 想 / 打算: Want and Plan Questions
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.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Construction index and function chapters relevant to 想/要/打算
Supports the learner-facing account of where 想/要/打算 appears and what communicative job it performs.
Official sourceChinese: A Comprehensive Grammar, 2nd ed.
Yip and Rimmington · Routledge · 2016
Locator: Relevant sentence and clause chapters for 想/要/打算
Cross-checks the 想 want, 要 will, 打算 plan to pattern, clause relationship, and limits represented by the reviewed examples.
Official sourceChinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 2 grammar inventory
Supports directory placement at HSK 2; it does not independently prove usage rules.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
会/能/可以会 / 能 / 可以: How to Say Can
Separate wants and plans from ability, learned skill, and permission.
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以便…以便: So That / In Order To
Connect an intended action to the purpose it serves.
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为了…而…为了...而...: For a Purpose
Express the goal that motivates a planned action.
Easy to confuse
愿意愿意 for Willingness
Compare wanting or planning an action with being willing to accept and perform it.
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