How do you use "want" in a sentence?

What do you want for your birthday? I want to learn how to play the guitar. The house wants painting.

want

Q: What does "want" mean?

To have a desire for; to wish for something 'Want' expresses desire or wish ('I want a cup of tea'), need ('the car wants repairing' - mainly British), or lack ('for want of a better word'). 'Want to' is followed by an infinitive ('I want to go'), while 'want someone to' requests an action ('I want you to help'). 'Want' is more direct than 'would like'.

Vocabulary Word BritishAmerican ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: To have a desire for; to wish for something

想要，需要

querer, desear

欲しい、〜したい

원하다, ~하고 싶다

'Want' expresses desire or wish ('I want a cup of tea'), need ('the car wants repairing' - mainly British), or lack ('for want of a better word'). 'Want to' is followed by an infinitive ('I want to go'), while 'want someone to' requests an action ('I want you to help'). 'Want' is more direct than 'would like'.

「want」表达愿望或希望（「I want a cup of tea」）、需要（「the car wants repairing」- 主要是英式英语）或缺乏（「for want of a better word」）。「want to」后跟不定式（「I want to go」），而「want someone to」请求某人做某事（「I want you to help」）。「want」比「would like」更直接。

«Want» expresa deseo o anhelo («I want a cup of tea»), necesidad («the car wants repairing» - principalmente británico), o carencia («for want of a better word»). «Want to» va seguido de infinitivo («I want to go»), mientras que «want someone to» solicita una acción («I want you to help»). «Want» es más directo que «would like».

「want」は欲求や願望（「I want a cup of tea」）、必要性（「the car wants repairing」- 主にイギリス英語）、または欠如（「for want of a better word」）を表します。「want to」は不定詞が続き（「I want to go」）、「want someone to」は行動を要求します（「I want you to help」）。「want」は「would like」より直接的です。

'Want'는 욕구나 소망을 표현하며('I want a cup of tea'), 필요('the car wants repairing' - 주로 영국식), 결핍('for want of a better word')을 나타냅니다. 'Want to' 뒤에는 부정사가 옵니다('I want to go'). 'Want someone to'는 행동을 요청합니다('I want you to help'). 'Want'는 'would like'보다 더 직접적입니다.

Examples

What do you want for your birthday?
你生日想要什么？
¿Qué quieres para tu cumpleaños?
誕生日に何が欲しい？
생일에 뭘 갖고 싶어?
I want to learn how to play the guitar.
我想学弹吉他。
Quiero aprender a tocar la guitarra.
ギターの弾き方を習いたい。
기타 치는 법을 배우고 싶다.
The house wants painting.
这房子需要粉刷了。
La casa necesita pintarse.
この家は塗り直しが必要だ。
이 집은 페인트칠이 필요하다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: general

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Norse 'vanta', meaning 'to be lacking', or from Old English 'wanian' (to diminish). The modern sense of 'to desire' developed from the idea of 'lacking something' — wanting what one does not have.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal