Expressing "be going to" with "yao"
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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 both modal verbs and are largely interchangeable, and both generally mean "to want." The only difference worth mentioning is that 要 (yào) is often used when it is something you want to/need to do, and plan to take action on. It can sound a bit more demanding (and less polite). 想 (xiǎng) is often used as an idea of one's mind, that you may or may not take action on. You can think of it as meaning "would like to."
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
