'wouldn't like to' vs 'don't want to'

[tree123]

Would someone please tell me how I should use 'would like to' and 'want to' appropriately?

Previously in a piece of my writing, I wrote 'I want to' do something, and teeachar replaced my wording with 'would like to'. I asked teechar why. [1] Teechar said it was not polite to say 'want to'.

The following is my sentence in another thread. Emsr2d2 corrected my words from 'wouldn't like to' to 'don't want to'.

I [STRIKE]wouldn't like[/STRIKE] don't want to flood the section with all my threads and to grab too much attention there, so I would prefer asking to ask several questions in a thread about the SAME drama in one thread.

I am confused.

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P.S.
[1] I don't remember which thread I wrote 'I want to', and the exact words teechar commented. My memory or understanding could possibly be wrong
[2] I don't intend to make teechar and emsr2d2 argued about this. If this is just the personal preference of theirs, that's fine.

 

[emsr2d2]

There's a difference between positive and negative sentences.

I would like to have a bath. :tick:
I wouldn't like to have a bath. Grammatically correct but more likely to be worded "I don't want to have a bath".

I would like to flood the section with my threads. :tick:
I wouldn't like to ... etc Grammatically correct but simply sounds better as "I don't want to ...".

I would like a coffee. :tick:
I want a coffee. :tick: but less polite than "would like".

 

[jutfrank]

Here is a very simple beginner's rule for using want to and would like to:

Use want to to state your intentions and/or desires very simply:

I want to be a teacher when I grow up.
I want to go home now.
I don't want to flood the section with all my threads.

Use would like to to make requests to people:

I would like to order a pizza, please.
I'd like to talk to the manager.

 

[tree123]

"There're many countries in Asia that I'd like to visit."

source: a fellow forum member's thread

I think the quoted sentence is to express the speaker's desire, but not request someone to do something for him/her. Correct?

I wonder if it is correct to use 'I'd like to visit' in this context. According to the rule, should the phrase be 'I want to visit'?

 

[tree123]

So, is there any way to know which phrase I should appropriately use to express desire?

There're many countries in Asia that I'd like to visit.

In this case, are 'would like to' and 'want to do' interchangeable when it comes to express someone's desire?

I think 'would like to' is more polite.

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EDIT:

After searching from the Internet and reading again the answers of yours here, I got a clearer picture of the usages of them.

Want to: stronger, demand, determine to realize something

Would like to: request to other people politely with 'like' which means pleasant request to other people. And it is more like a wish with subjunctive mood 'would'

The negation of 'want to do' makes the demanding tone reduced, so I can use 'don't want to do' instead of 'wouldn't like to do' as emrs2d2 comments it is not natural.

Does my understanding above make sense?:?:

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Yes, that's a good description of their differences.

 

[tedmc]

I don't intend to make teechar and emsr2d2 [STRIKE]argued[/STRIKE] argue about this.

 

[tree123]

Hello,

I am still struggling in understanding the usage of them.

I know it would be rude to say 'I want to do something' if I request help. But would it be rude if I say 'if you want help, just let me know'?

I mean:

I --> someone: I want to do = demand someone do something for me, so it is rude. (I've understood this usage.)

someone --> me: You want me to do, if the speaker is me, does it still sound rude?

 

[tree123]

I have another question about this.

In Chinese, people's wording depends on their backgrounds, i.e. upbringing, education etc. Some people usually will phrase their wording elegantly, while some are unable to do so, but that dosen't mean they intend to be rude.

I assume it is similar in English. When it comes to this specific usage of the phrases, is it possible an adult native speaker says 'I want your help’ out of their personal mannerism only, and s/he doesn't mean to be rude at all?

 

[tedmc]

I have another question about this.

In Chinese, people's [STRIKE]wording depends[/STRIKE] writing is influenced by [STRIKE]on [/STRIKE]their backgrounds, i.e. upbringing, education etc. Some people usually will [STRIKE]phrase their wording[/STRIKE] write elegantly, while some are unable to do so, but that doesn't mean they intend to be rude.

I assume it is similar in English. When it comes to this specific usage of[STRIKE] the[/STRIKE] phrases, is it possible for an adult native speaker to say[STRIKE]s[/STRIKE] 'I want your help’ out of their personal mannerism (?) only, and s/he doesn't mean to be rude at all?

"I want your help" sounds like a demand to a native speaker. Better say "I need your help" or "Could you help me?".

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Hello,

I am still struggling in understanding the usage of them.

I know it would be rude to say 'I want to do something' if I request help.

That's not rude, and it doesn't sound like you're asking for help. "I want to do something" doesn't mean "I want help."

But would it be rude if I say 'If you want help, just let me know'?

Not usually.

I mean:

I --> someone: I want to do = demand someone do something for me, so it is rude.

No. That's not what "I want to do" means.

(I've understood this usage.)

someone --> me: You want me to do. If the speaker is me, does it still sound rude?

No.

One problem here is that you're not creating natural sentences, so it's not clear what you want to know. You might want to rephrase your sentences and try again.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I have another question about this.

In Chinese, people's wording depends on their backgrounds, i.e. upbringing, education etc.

That's true of most cultures.

Some people usually will phrase their wording elegantly, while some are unable to do so, but that dosen't mean they intend to be rude.

That's also true of most cultures.

I assume it is similar in English.

Yes, it is.

When it comes to this specific usage of the phrases, is it possible an adult native speaker says 'I want your help’ out of their personal mannerism only, and s/he doesn't mean to be rude at all?

Yes. "I want your help" isn't necessarily rude. It depends on the tone and the context. That is, it depends on how and when you say it.

In the US, we'd probably say, "Can you help me?" or "Could you help me?" or "Would you help me?"

And if the answer is yes, we'd say, "Thank you!"

Brits say "Please" more often than Americans. In the US we tend to use it more pointedly: "Would you please be quiet?"

But again, whether we use please depends on tone and context.