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

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{{Grammar Box}}
 
{{Grammar Box}}
  
The [[auxiliary verb]] 要 (yào) has [[Auxiliary verb "yao" and its multiple meanings|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|要 (yào)]], but stick with it!
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The [[auxiliary verb]] 要 (yào) has [[Auxiliary verb "yao" and its multiple meanings|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 ==
 
== 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.
 
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.
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This usage of 要 (yào) typically includes a [[time noun|time word]] of some sort, which may be placed before or after the subject. This is fairly logical; if you're discussing plans for the future, you're quite likely to say when you plan to do things.
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Subject + 要 + Verb
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Subj. + Time + 要 + Verb
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Examples ==
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<div class="jiegou">
  
<div class="liju">
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Time + Subj. + + Verb
 
 
* 我 <em>要</em> 去 吃饭 , 你 去 吗 ? <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yào</em> qù chīfàn, nǐ qù ma?</span> <span class="trans">I am going to go eat. Do you want to go?</span>
 
* 星期天 我 <em>要</em> 去 北京 。 <span class="pinyin">Xīngqītiān wǒ <em>yào</em> qù Běijīng.</span> <span class="trans">I am going to Beijing on Sunday.</span>
 
* 我 <em>要</em> 学 中文 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yào</em> xué Zhōngwén.</span><span class="trans">I am going to learn Chinese.</span>
 
* 我 <em>要</em> 去 中国 工作 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yào</em> qù Zhōnggúo gōngzùo.</span><span class="trans">I am going to China to work.</span>
 
* 我 <em>要</em> 给 妈妈 电话 。  <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yào</em> gěi māma diànhuà.</span> <span class="trans">I am going to call my mom.</span>
 
* 我 <em>要</em> 去 洗手间 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yào</em> qù xǐshǒujiān.</span> <span class="trans">I am going to the bathroom.</span>
 
* 不好意思 , 我 <em>要</em> 出去 一 下 。 <span class="pinyin">Bùhǎoyìsi, wǒ <em>yào</em> chūqù yī xià.</span><span class="trans">Pardon me, I am going out real quick.</span>
 
* 我 <em>要</em> 买 一 个 iPhone 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yào</em> mǎi yī gè iPhone.</span><span class="trans">I am going to buy an iPhone.</span>
 
* 我 <em>要</em> 做 咖啡 , 你 喝 吗 ? <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yào</em> zùo kāfēi, nǐ hē ma?</span> <span class="trans">I am going to make coffee, do you want to drink some?</span>
 
* 下班 以后 你 <em></em> 去 哪里 ? <span class="pinyin">Xiàbān yǐhòu nǐ <em>yào</em> qù nǎlǐ?</span> <span class="trans">Where are you going after work?</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== 要 and 想 ==
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Note that the time word is not strictly required, and when it's missing, you may at first find yourself wondering [[Auxiliary verb "yao" and its multiple meanings|which usage of 要 (yào)]] you're dealing with. This is normal; it just takes some getting used to.
 
 
Instead of using 要 (yào) it is also possible to use the word 想 (xiǎng). These two words are both [[modal verb]]s 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."
 
 
 
For more about 想 (xiǎng), see [["Would like to" with "xiang"]].
 
  
 
== Examples ==
 
== Examples ==
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 我 <em>要</em> 喝 咖啡 。 <span class="expl">(I am going to get my hands on some coffee)</span><span class="pinyin"><em>yào</em> hē kāfēi.</span><span class="trans">I want to drink coffee.</span>
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*我 <strong>明天</strong> <em>要</em> 买 一 个  iPhone。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>míngtiān</strong> <em>yào</em> mǎi yī gè iPhone.</span><span class="trans">I am going to buy an iPhone tomorrow.</span>
* <em></em> 喝 咖啡 。 <span class="expl">(I want to drink a cup of coffee, but may or may not act on that)</span><span class="pinyin"><em>xiǎng</em> hē kāfēi.</span><span class="trans">I'd like to drink coffee.</span>
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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 <em>要</em> 吃 什么 ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>yào</em> chī shénme?</span> <span class="trans">What do you want to eat?</span>
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*我们 <strong>今年</strong> <em></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>
* 你 <em></em> 吃 什么 ? <span class="pinyin"><em>xiǎng</em> chī shénme?</span> <span class="trans">What would you like to eat?</span>
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*他 <strong>下 个 月</strong> <em>要</em> 来 中国 工作。 <span class="pinyin">Tā <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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*你 <strong>下 个 星期</strong> <em>要</em> 去 她 家 晚饭 吗?<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ xià gè xīngqī <em>yào</em> qù tā jiā chī wǎnfàn ma?</span><span class="trans">Are you going to her place for dinner next week?</span>
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*这 个 <strong>星期天</strong> 你 <em>要</em> 做 什么?<span class="pinyin">Zhège <strong>Xīngqītiān</strong> nǐ <em>yào</em> zuò shénme?</span><span class="trans">What are you doing this Sunday?</span>
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*我 <strong>晚上</strong> <em>要</em> 给 妈妈 打电话。  <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong> wǎnshang</strong> <em>yào</em> gěi māma dǎ diànhuà.</span><span class="trans">I am going to call my mom this evening.</span>
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*<strong>下午</strong> 老师 <em>要</em>  来 我家。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Xiàwǔ</strong> lǎoshī <em>yào</em>  lái wǒ jiā.</span><span class="trans">The teacher is coming to my place this afternoon.</span>
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*老板 <strong>明天</strong> <em>要</em> 见 他们 吗? <span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <strong>míngtiān</strong> <em>yào</em> jiàn tāmen ma?</span><span class="trans">Is the boss going to meet them tomorrow? </span>
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*<strong>下班 以后</strong> 你 <em></em> 回家 吗? <span class="pinyin"><strong>Xiàbān yǐhòu</strong> nǐ <em>yào</em> huíjiā ma?</span><span class="trans">Are you planning to go home after getting off work?</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
*[[现代汉语八百词(增订本)]] (p. ) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|4}}
 
+
{{Source|现代汉语八百词(增订本)|}}
*[[Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)]][http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ →buy]
+
{{Source|Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)]][http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ →buy]
  
 
=== Dictionaries ===
 
=== Dictionaries ===
 
* [[现代汉语词典(第5版)]] (p. ) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/dp/B001B1RZCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693609&sr=8-1 →buy]
 
* [[现代汉语词典(第5版)]] (p. ) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/dp/B001B1RZCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693609&sr=8-1 →buy]
 
  
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|要|A1|Subject + 要 + Verb;Subject + 要 + Verb + 了|我 <em>要</em> 去 吃饭,你 去 吗?|grammar point|ASGVT2KN}}
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{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 +
{{Basic Grammar|要|A1|Subj. + 要 + Verb (+ 了)|我 <em>要</em> 去 吃饭,你 去 吗?|grammar point|ASGVT2KN}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "about to" with "jiuyao"}}
 
{{Similar|About to happen with "le"}}
 
{{Similar|About to happen with "le"}}
 
{{Similar|"Would like to" with "xiang"}}
 
{{Similar|"Would like to" with "xiang"}}
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{{Used for|Expressing determination}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing determination}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to the future}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to the future}}
{{Used for|Expressing time and date}}
 
 
{{Used for|Referring to changes of situation}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to changes of situation}}
 
{{POS|Verbs}}
 
{{POS|Verbs}}

Latest revision as of 08:58, 21 April 2021

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. This is fairly logical; if you're discussing plans for the future, you're quite likely to say when you plan to do things.

Subj. + Time + 要 + Verb

Time + Subj. + 要 + Verb

Note that the time word is not strictly required, and when it's missing, you may at first find yourself wondering which usage of 要 (yào) you're dealing with. This is normal; it just takes some getting used to.

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? Nǐ xià gè xīngqī 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?Zhège Xīngqītiānyào zuò shénme?What are you doing this Sunday?
  • 晚上 给 妈妈 打电话。 wǎnshang yào gěi māma dǎ diànhuà.I am going to call my mom this evening.
  • 下午 老师 来 我家。 Xiàwǔ lǎoshī yào lái wǒ jiā.The teacher is coming to my place this afternoon.
  • 老板 明天 见 他们 吗? Lǎobǎn míngtiān yào jiàn tāmen ma?Is the boss going to meet them 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

{{Source|Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)]]→buy

Dictionaries