要做
我要做作业。
I need to do my homework.
To have an obligation or necessity to perform an action.
你要做这个项目吗？
Do you need to do this project?
明天要做报告，我今晚必须准备。
I have to prepare a report tomorrow, so I must work tonight.
Used to express necessity or obligation in a direct way. Often interchangeable with '需要做' (xūyào zuò) but slightly more informal.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing '要做' for polite requests
In formal or polite contexts, use '需要做' (xūyào zuò) or '必须做' (bìxū zuò) instead of '要做' to sound more respectful. For example, '您需要做这个报告吗？' (Do you need to do this report?) is more appropriate than '您要做这个报告吗？' in a business setting.
Gold Rule
Distinguish between '要' as 'want' and 'need'
'要做' can mean either 'want to do' or 'need to do' depending on context. For example, '我要做饭' can mean 'I want to cook' or 'I need to cook' (e.g., because I'm hungry). To clarify necessity, add context like '我要做饭，因为饿了' (I need to cook because I'm hungry).
Word Origin
The phrase combines '要' (yào, meaning 'to want' or 'to need') and '做' (zuò, meaning 'to do'). Historically, '要' evolved from a verb meaning 'to request' to expressing obligation or necessity in modern Mandarin.
Usage Notes
1. '要做' is more direct and informal than '需要做' (xūyào zuò), which sounds slightly more polite or formal. 2. In questions, it often implies a suggestion or inquiry about necessity, e.g., '你要做这个吗？' (Do you need to do this?). 3. Avoid using '要做' in contexts requiring extreme politeness (e.g., formal requests).