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yào — “to want; must”

How to write and say the Chinese character (yào), which means to want; must — with stroke order, audio, its story, and an example sentence. Theme: Can & must.

Pinyin · 拼音 yào
Meaning · 意思 to want; must
Strokes · 笔画 9
Radical · 部首 (cover)
Hear it · 听发音
Watch it drawn stroke by stroke →

Stroke order笔顺

要 is written with 9 strokes, in this order (the red stroke is the one being added):

The story behind it字源小故事

Picture it: a woman 女 with hands on her waist 覀.

A common word常用词

xiǎngyào

to want

Example sentence例句

yàoxuéhǎozhōngwén

I want to learn Chinese well.

This page is part of the free Chinese character explorer from Casey Foundation Chinese School — a Saturday community Chinese school in Narre Warren, Victoria, serving Berwick, Cranbourne, Hallam and families across Melbourne's southeast. New students get a free trial lesson.