vault update: 2024-07-11 17:07:05

Affected files:
The Optative Verbs.md
位wèi.md

The Optative Verbs.md

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+Optative verbs are those which express a wish or desire. In Chinese, this is done using an auxiliary verb, often referred to as a modal auxiliary or an optative verb.
+```
+Positive: Auxiliary + Verb
+Negative: 不 + Auxiliary + Verb
+Question: (a) Auxiliary + Verb + 吗 ?
+          (b) (Auxiliary 不 Auxiliary) + Verb
+```
+
+1. 我想去中国参观访问
+   I want to go and visit China.
+2. 你不应该在教室里吸烟。
+   You shouldn't smoke in the classroom.
+3. 他会不会游泳？
+   Does he know how to swim?
+
+# 想xiǎng
+想xiǎng as an optative verb is a derivative of an actual substantive verb. It's basic meaning is "to think of/about". As an optative verb, it expresses intention or desire of doing something.
+1. 这个星期六你想去看电影吗？
+   Do you feel like going to watch a movie this Saturday?
+2. 她想去看妈妈。
+   She's (thinking about/wants to) go to see her mother.
+
+想xiǎng can also be used with a sentence as it's object, to say "I think that...".
+1. 我想他明天回来上课。
+   I think that he'll come back to class tomorrow.
+However, you can't negate this ("I don't think...") with 不想. Instead, you need to move 不 into the object sentence, to instead say "I think that not X":
+1. 我想他明天不回来上课。
+   I think that he won't come back to class tomorrow
+   I don't think he'll come back to class tomorrow.
+# 要yào
+要yào as an optative verb means "to desire", expressing a strong desire to carry out an action.
+1. 你要去厕所吗？
+   Do you need to go to the bathroom?
+2. 你明天要不要去城里看朋友？
+   Do you want to go into town to see friends tomorrow?
+   
+It can also be used to express a demand, a necessity imposed by the outside world -- "to have to" do something. Sometimes the adverb 一定yídìng is added to further underscore the urgency/importance of the demand.
+1. 对不起，我现在要去上课。我们晚上再谈吧。
+   Sorry, I have to go to a class now. We'll talk again in the evening.
+2. 写字一定要写得慢。
+   You definitely have to write characters slowly.
+
+
+> [!help] 想 vs 要
+> The meaning of 想 and 要 is quite similar, and they can sometimes be used interchangeably. However, 要 represents a stronger intention; 想 is more of a "wish", whereas 要 is more of a "will".
+> 想 stresses the wishing, thinking about, and planning of an action.
+> 要 stresses the urge or demand for carrying it out.
+> 想 can be modified by a degree adverb (e.g. 很想), but 要 can't.
+
+# 能néng
+The optative 能néng expresses the ability to carry out a certain action.
+1. 他现在能看中文杂志。
+   He's now able to read Chinese mahazines.

位wèi.md

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+位wèi is an alternative to 个ge as a measure word for referring to people. It implies respect, and serves as an honorific measure word:
+1. 他是一位作是非常认真的老师
+   He is a teacher who is very conscientious about his work
+2. 来，让我介绍一下儿。这位是王大夫，这位是张老师。
+   Come, let me introduce you. This is Dr. Wang and this is Teacher Zhang.
+ 3. 喂，请问您是哪位？
+    Hey, may I ask who you are?
+
+Sometimes it can also be used in a playful tone as a term of endearment, for example with friends (a bit like sir, my lady, etc. in English).
+
+Commonly in a restaurant, a waiter would ask "几位" to inquire about the size of your party. This is normally answered with 位 also (as somewhat of an exception, it's not having a big ego to do so), e.g. 四位.