Difference between revisions of "Expressing "be going to" with "yao""

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* 你们 <strong>现在</strong> <em>要</em> 出去 吗? <span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <strong>xiànzài</strong> <em>yào</em> chūqù ma?</span><span class="trans">Are you all going out now?</span>
 
* 你们 <strong>现在</strong> <em>要</em> 出去 吗? <span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <strong>xiànzài</strong> <em>yào</em> chūqù ma?</span><span class="trans">Are you all going out now?</span>
 
*我们 <strong>今年</strong> <em>要</em> 去 美国 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <strong>jīnnián</strong> <em>yào</em> qù Měiguó.</span><span class="trans">We are planning to go to the U.S. this year.</span>
 
*我们 <strong>今年</strong> <em>要</em> 去 美国 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <strong>jīnnián</strong> <em>yào</em> qù Měiguó.</span><span class="trans">We are planning to go to the U.S. this year.</span>
* 他 <strong>下 个 月</strong> <em>要</em> 来 中国 工作。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>xià gè yuè</strong> <em>yào</em> lái Zhōngguó gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">He is coming to China to work next month.</span>
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* 他 <strong>下 个 月</strong> <em>要</em> 来 中国 工作。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>xià gè yuè</strong> <em>yào</em> lái Zhōngguó gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">He is coming to China to work next month.</span>
* 你 <em>要</em> 去 我家 吃 晚饭 吗?<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ <em>yào</em> qù wǒjiā chī wǎnfàn ma?</span><span class="trans">Are you going to my place to have dinner?</span>
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* 你 <strong>下 个 星期</strong> <em>要</em> 去 她 家 吃 晚饭 吗?<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ <em>yào</em> qù tā jiā chī wǎnfàn ma?</span><span class="trans">Are you going to her place for dinner next week?</span>
 
* 这 个 <strong>星期天</strong> 你 <em>要</em> 做 什么?<span class="pinyin">Zhè ge <strong>Xīngqītiān</strong> wǒ <em>yào</em> zuò shénme?</span> <span class="trans">What are you going to do this Sunday?</span>
 
* 这 个 <strong>星期天</strong> 你 <em>要</em> 做 什么?<span class="pinyin">Zhè ge <strong>Xīngqītiān</strong> wǒ <em>yào</em> zuò shénme?</span> <span class="trans">What are you going to do this Sunday?</span>
 
* 我 <strong>晚上</strong><em>要</em> 给 妈妈 打电话。  <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong> wǎnshàng</strong> <em>yào</em> gěi māma dǎ diànhuà.</span> <span class="trans">I am going to call my mom this evening.</span>
 
* 我 <strong>晚上</strong><em>要</em> 给 妈妈 打电话。  <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong> wǎnshàng</strong> <em>yào</em> gěi māma dǎ diànhuà.</span> <span class="trans">I am going to call my mom this evening.</span>

Revision as of 16:38, 12 February 2016

The auxiliary verb 要 (yào) has several different meanings, and here we'll tackle the "be going to" meaning. You'll use this when you are discussing your plans with someone.

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. This usage of 要 (yào) typically includes a time word of some sort, which may be placed before or after the subject.

Subj. + 要 + Verb

Examples

  • 明天 买 一 个 iPhone。 míngtiān yào mǎi yī gè iPhone.I am going to buy an iPhone tomorrow.
  • 你们 现在 出去 吗? Nǐmen xiànzài yào chūqù ma?Are you all going out now?
  • 我们 今年 去 美国 。 Wǒmen jīnnián yào qù Měiguó.We are planning to go to the U.S. this year.
  • 下 个 月 来 中国 工作。 xià gè yuè yào lái Zhōngguó gōngzuò.He is coming to China to work next month.
  • 下 个 星期 去 她 家 吃 晚饭 吗?yào qù tā jiā chī wǎnfàn ma?Are you going to her place for dinner next week?
  • 这 个 星期天 做 什么?Zhè ge Xīngqītiānyào zuò shénme? What are you going to do this Sunday?
  • 晚上 给 妈妈 打电话。 wǎnshàng yào gěi māma dǎ diànhuà. I am going to call my mom this evening.
  • 下午 老师 来 我家。 Xiàwǔ lǎoshīyào lái wǒ jiā. The teacher is coming to my place this afternoon.
  • 老板 明天 见 客户 吗? Lǎobǎn míngtiān yào jiàn kèhù? Is the boss going to meet the cliets tomorrow?
  • 下班 以后 回家 吗? Xiàbān yǐhòuyào huíjiā ma? Are you planning to go home after getting off work?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries