Difference between revisions of "Expressing "be going to" with "yao""
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* 我 <em>想</em> 喝咖啡。 <span class="trans">I want to drink coffee. (I wish to drink a cup of coffee)</span> | * 我 <em>想</em> 喝咖啡。 <span class="trans">I want to drink coffee. (I wish to drink a cup of coffee)</span> | ||
* 你 <em>要</em> 吃什么？ <span class="trans">What do you want to eat?</span> | * 你 <em>要</em> 吃什么？ <span class="trans">What do you want to eat?</span> | ||
| − | * 你 <em>想</em> 吃什么？ <span class="trans">What | + | * 你 <em>想</em> 吃什么？ <span class="trans">What would you like to eat?</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 13:53, 15 September 2014
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Keywords
The auxiliary verb 要 (yào) has a lot of meanings, and here we'll tackle the "be going to" meaning. This can be confusing at first, dealing with the multiple meanings of 要 (yào), but stick with it!
Contents
Structure
The idea behind this usage of 要 (yào) is that someone is "planning to" or "going to" or "preparing to" do something. It's not that they just want to, or have to, it's that they fully expect to do it. It's in their plan.
Subject + 要 + Verb
Examples
- 我 要 去 吃饭，你 去 吗？ I am going to go eat, do you want to go.
- 星期天 我 要 去 北京。I am going to Beijing on Sunday.
- 我 要 学 中文。I am going to learn Chinese.
- 我 要 去 中国 工作。I am going to China to work.
- 我 要 给 妈妈 电话。I am going to call my mom.
- 我 要 去 洗手间。I am going to the bathroom.
- 不好意思，我 要 出去 一 下。Pardon me, I am going out real quick.
- 我 要 买 一 个 iPhone。I am going to buy an iPhone.
- 我 要 做 咖啡，你 喝 吗？I am going to make coffee, do you want to drink some?
- 下班 以后 你 要 去 哪里？Where are you going after work?
要 and 想
Instead of using 要 (yào) it is also possible to use the word 想 (xiǎng). These two words are usually interchangeable, and both generally mean "to want". In most sentences you can easily make a 要 (yào) sentence into a 想 (xiǎng) sentence, because these two words are placed in the same place in the sentence. The only thing that will happen is that you control the "hardness" of what you are stating. 要 (yào) is often used when it is something you want to/need to do and will take into action. 想 (xiǎng) is often used as an idea of one's mind, that you may or may not take into action.
Examples
- 我 要 喝咖啡。 I want to drink coffe. (I am going to drink a cup of coffee)
- 我 想 喝咖啡。 I want to drink coffee. (I wish to drink a cup of coffee)
- 你 要 吃什么？ What do you want to eat?
- 你 想 吃什么？ What would you like to eat?
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (p. ) →buy
Dictionaries
- 现代汉语词典（第5版） (p. ) →buy
