要 — must, need to, have to.

grammar → 要

TSUMUGU · TBCL 2 (est.) · 語法

要 grammar point · tier 1 · 要 — modal of obligation (must / need to / have to)

· yào

Auxiliary before a verb: marks the action as required of the subject — must, need to, have to.

Hook inherited from 要.

Auxiliary before a verb

框 · Frame

[subj] 要 [verb phrase]

觸 · Trigger

You are telling someone an action is required of them, or stating what you have to do.

序 · The move

1name who carries the obligation: the subjectis this a requirement on them, not merely a wish they have?

2set 要 directly before the verb phrasedoes 要 sit in front of a verb, not a noun?

3negate the obligation with 不用 or 不必, not 不要did you mean 'need not' (不用) rather than 'do not want / do not' (不要)?

例 · Examples

1你要must / need to (lays the obligation)記得remember打電話make a phone call給to (the recipient)王老師。

You must remember to call Teacher Wang.

界 · Boundary

想

要2 lays a requirement on the subject — it must happen (你要記得). 想 reports a wish or inclination — they would like it (我想去). 要 puts weight on the action; 想 only leans toward it.

要1

Same character, two jobs. 要1 takes an object and means to want a thing (我要一杯水). 要2 takes a verb and means to have to do the action (你要記得). The slot after 要 decides which: a noun is wanting, a verb is obligation.

negating with 不要 for 'need not': 你不要記得打電話 → 你不用記得打電話（不要 = don't / do not want）

putting a noun after obligation 要: 你要功課 (you want homework) → 你要做功課（要 + verb for the duty）

using 想 where a requirement is meant: 你想記得打電話 → 你要記得打電話

English 'have to / need to / must' all map onto 要, but its negation splits: 'don't have to' is 不用/不必, while 不要 means 'don't' or 'don't want.' Learners negate with 不要 and reverse the meaning.