Usage of 要 vs 想 (yào / xiǎng)

Meaning: Both cover “want to” — but at different strengths.

Context: Choose between them depending on how settled the plan is.

Structure:

Note: 要 is the firmer of the two — a plan, a need, sometimes an instruction. 想 is softer, closer to “would like to”. 我要去 sounds decided; 我想去 sounds like a wish.

• • 我每个月都要去旅游。
  (Every month I have to get away. / From Text)
• • 我要去公司工作。
  (I am off to the office to work.)
• • 我想去中国旅游。
  (I would like to travel in China.)

Usage of 左右 (zuǒ yòu)

Meaning: About / around / give or take.

Context: Softens a number when you do not want to be exact.

Structure:

Note: 左右 goes after the quantity, never before — 三天左右 is right, 左右三天 is wrong. It means the real figure could be a little above or a little below.

• • 每次玩三天左右。
  (Each trip runs about three days. / From Text)
• • 这个电脑五千块钱左右。
  (This computer costs around five thousand yuan.)
• • 他每天睡七个小时左右。
  (He sleeps about seven hours a night.)

Usage of …的时候 (de shí hou)

Meaning: When… / at the time of…

Context: Marks the time frame for whatever the main clause says.

Structure:

Note: 的时候 always comes at the end of the time expression, the opposite of English “when”. It attaches to a plain time word as readily as to a verb: 四月的时候, 九点的时候, 学习的时候.

• • 四月的时候广州很暖和。
  (Guangzhou is warm in April. / From Text)
• • 九点的时候，我在运动。
  (At nine o’clock I was exercising.)
• • 我学习的时候喜欢听音乐。
  (When I study I like listening to music.)