want

/wɒnt/ (bre, ipa) · /wɑːnt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈwȯnt also ˈwänt and ˈwənt/ (ame, mw)

want — 動詞

  • wantpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • wantshe / she / it
  • wantedpast simple
  • wanting-ing form

1. to feel a wish to have, do, or get something — for instance, a new bicycle, a be

1.動詞及物A1
釋義

想要

希望擁有或得到某物

to feel a wish to have, do, or get something — for instance, a new bicycle, a better job, or the chance to travel abroad

例句

Inês wants a new bicycle for her tenth birthday.

Inês 想要一輛新腳踏車當作十歲生日禮物。

want + noun (desired object)

Élise is saving money because she wants to travel to Japan next year.

Élise 正在存錢，因為她想要明年去日本旅行。

want + to-infinitive

同義詞
  • wish

    more formal and often used for hypothetical or impossible desires

  • would like

    polite alternative, preferred in requests and offers

  • desire

    stronger and more formal; suggests deep feeling

反義詞
  • reject

    to refuse to accept or consider something offered

文法句型

want + noun

want + to-infinitive

用法筆記

Frequently followed by a to-infinitive or a noun phrase. In polite requests, 'would like' is preferred over 'want' (e.g. 'I would like a coffee, please').

常見錯誤

❌I want a coffee, please.
✅I would like a coffee, please.
💡'want' sounds too direct in polite requests; use 'would like' instead.
❌She wants that I help her.
✅She wants me to help her.
💡'want' takes an object + to-infinitive, not a that-clause.

2. to need or wish for a particular person to be in a place or to take part in an a

2.動詞及物A2
釋義

需要到場

希望某人到場或加入

to need or wish for a particular person to be in a place or to take part in an activity

例句

The manager wants you in her office at three o'clock.

經理希望你三點到她的辦公室。

want + person + place phrase

Dahlia's parents want her home before it gets dark.

Dahlia 的父母希望她在天黑前到家。

同義詞
  • need

    less about presence, more about requirement for a task

  • call for

    more formal; often used in official announcements

  • summon

    formal and implies authority

文法句型

want + person

want + person + to-infinitive

用法筆記

Often used in workplace and family contexts to request someone's presence. The person wanted is typically named as the direct object, followed by a location or purpose phrase.

常見錯誤

❌The teacher wants that you come early.
✅The teacher wants you to come early.
💡use object + to-infinitive, not a that-clause.

3. to have a desire to become involved in an activity, group, or plan that has alre

3.動詞不及物B1
釋義

想參與

想要加入已開始的活動

to have a desire to become involved in an activity, group, or plan that has already been started by others

例句

Hari saw the basketball game and wanted to join in.

Hari 看到籃球賽之後想要一起玩。

want + to join in (involvement)

When Layla heard about the beach trip, she said she wanted in.

Layla 聽說要去海灘旅行之後說她也要去。

informal: want in

同義詞
反義詞
  • opt out

    to choose not to participate

文法句型

want + to-infinitive + in

want in

用法筆記

Typically followed by 'in' or 'to + verb of participation'. The informal expression 'want in' omits the infinitive entirely and is common in spoken American English.

常見錯誤

❌She wants in the competition.
✅She wants to be in the competition.' or 'She wants in on the competition.
💡'want in' needs 'on' when followed by a specific activity.

4. to wish to end one's participation in a situation, agreement, or relationship

4.動詞不及物B1
釋義

想退出

想要脫離某活動或關係

to wish to end one's participation in a situation, agreement, or relationship

例句

After the argument, Nila told her partner she wanted out of the deal.

Nila 在爭吵之後告訴夥伴她不想再參與這筆交易了。

informal: want out of [situation]

The singer decided she wanted to leave the band after the tour.

這位歌手決定在巡迴演唱之後離開樂團。

同義詞
反義詞

文法句型

want out

want + to-infinitive + out of

用法筆記

The informal phrasal expression 'want out' is very common in spoken English, especially for ending commitments. More formal alternatives include 'wish to withdraw' or 'wish to end one's involvement'.

常見錯誤

❌I want out from the agreement.
✅I want out of the agreement.
💡use 'out of', not 'out from'.

5. to need something because it is necessary for a particular purpose — for example

5.動詞及物A2
釋義

需要；缺乏

因必要而需要某物

to need something because it is necessary for a particular purpose — for example, a plant wants water, or a recipe wants salt

例句

The plants want water every day in this hot weather.

天氣這麼熱，植物每天都需要澆水。

want + noun (what is needed)

Your car wants a new tyre before you drive that far.

你的車在開遠路之前需要換一個新輪胎。

同義詞
  • need

    the more common and neutral alternative

  • require

    more formal; often in technical or official contexts

  • lack

    focuses on the absence of something that should be present

反義詞
  • have

    to possess something that is needed

文法句型

want + noun

用法筆記

This sense overlaps with 'need' but is slightly less common in modern everyday English except in fixed expressions. Common with inanimate subjects (cars, houses, fences, food).

常見錯誤

❌The house wants to be repaired.
✅The house wants repairing.' or 'The house needs to be repaired.
💡'want' in the REQUIRE sense takes a gerund, not a passive infinitive.
❌My phone wants charging.' can sound old-fashioned.
✅My phone needs charging.
💡'need' is more common in everyday use for this meaning.

6. used to suggest that a person would be wise to do something — for instance, sayi

6.動詞不及物B1
釋義

應該

建議某人做某事

used to suggest that a person would be wise to do something — for instance, saying you want to check the oil before a long drive means you should check it

例句

You want to take an umbrella — the forecast says rain.

你應該帶一把傘——氣象預報說會下雨。

want to (advice): you should

If you are visiting Kyoto, you want to book your hotel early.

如果你要去京都，最好早點訂飯店。

同義詞
  • should

    direct advice, neutral register

  • ought to

    slightly more formal than 'want to'

文法句型

want + to-infinitive (advice)

用法筆記

Common in informal spoken advice. The subject is almost always 'you'. 'You want to…' is softer and friendlier than 'you should…' or 'you must…'.

常見錯誤

❌Using this in formal writing: 'Applicants want to submit their documents early.
✅Applicants should submit their documents early.
💡this sense is informal.

want — 名詞