要 (yāo)

(bound form) to demand; to coerce

Etymology

Pictograph of two hands grabbing a woman's (女) waist. The current meaning "want" is a phonetic loan. The original meaning "waist" is now written as 腰.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》：“要，身中也，象人要自之形。从，交省聲。”

Original meaning

waist

Components

Example sentences

  1. 不要死！ — Don't die!
  2. 不要动。 — Don't move.
  3. 他要爱。 — He wants affection.
  4. 他要钱。 — He wants the money.
  5. 我不要。 — I don't want to.

View all 50 example sentences for 要 →