Chinese word

要不要

Pronunciation

Pinyinyào bù yào

Meaning

  • verbwant

Example

要不要这个？yào bú yào zhè ge

Do you want this?

Illustration for 要不要 (want)

More examples

你要不要帮个忙？nǐ yào bú yào bāng gè máng

Do you want to do me a favor?

Core concept

A light offer that asks whether something or an action should go ahead.

Common phrases

  • 要不要帮个忙yào bú yào bāng gè máng

    want to do me a favor

  • 要不要喝点儿水yào bú yào hē diǎnr shuǐ

    want some water

Similar words

要yào: Showing that something is wanted or that an offer is accepted.
不要bú yào: Showing that something is not wanted or that an offer is declined.
想不想xiǎng bù xiǎng: A quick conversational question asking whether someone wants to do something.
想xiǎng: Expressing a wish or intention to do something.

Definition in Chinese

口语中常用的简略二选疑问，用于快速确认对方是否接受某物或是否愿意做某事。kóu yǔ zhōng cháng yòng de jiǎn lüè èr xuǎn yí wèn yòng yú kuài sù què rèn duì fāng shì fǒu jiē shòu mǒu wù huò shì fǒu yuàn yì zuò mǒu shì

Word origin

The form comes from setting 要 (yào, "want/need") against 不要 (bù yào, "not want/not need"), with the contrast shortened into a fast conversational question.

Usage tips

  • The same expression can cover both accepting an item and agreeing to do something, so its meaning depends on what follows or on the situation rather than on a fixed English verb.

Other meanings

  • needverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word