想
xiǎng
Expressing "would like to" with "xiang"
想 before a verb is "would like to" — a wish, softer than 要.
想 + Verb
How it works
我想去 is "I'd like to go". It expresses desire without committing, which makes it the polite way to state what you want.
Followed by a noun instead of a verb, 想 means "to miss": 我想你.
Negate with 不想: 我不想去.
Examples
wǒ xiǎng qù
我想去。
I'd like to go.
wǒ xiǎng hē kā fēi
我想喝咖啡。
I'd like a coffee.
wǒ bù xiǎng gōng zuò
我不想工作。
I don't feel like working.