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

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* <strong>星期天</strong> 我 <em>要</em> 去 北京 。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Xīngqītiān</strong> wǒ <em>yào</em> qù Běijīng.</span> <span class="trans">I am going to Beijing on Sunday.</span>
 
* <strong>星期天</strong> 我 <em>要</em> 去 北京 。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Xīngqītiān</strong> wǒ <em>yào</em> qù Běijīng.</span> <span class="trans">I am going to Beijing on Sunday.</span>
 
* 我 <strong>等会儿</strong><em>要</em> 给 妈妈 打电话 。  <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>děnghuǐr</strong> <em>yào</em> gěi māma dǎ diànhuà.</span> <span class="trans">I am going to call my mom in a little bit.</span>
 
* 我 <strong>等会儿</strong><em>要</em> 给 妈妈 打电话 。  <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>děnghuǐr</strong> <em>yào</em> gěi māma dǎ diànhuà.</span> <span class="trans">I am going to call my mom in a little bit.</span>
* 我 <em>要</em> 出去。 <span class="pinyin"><em>yào</em> chūqù.</span><span class="trans">I am going out.</span>
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* 我 <em>要</em> 出去。 <span class="pinyin"><em>yào</em> chūqù.</span><span class="trans">I am going out.</span>
 
* 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>
 
* 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>
 
* <strong>下班 以后</strong> 你 <em>要</em> 去 哪里 ? <span class="pinyin"><strong>Xiàbān yǐhòu</strong> nǐ <em>yào</em> qù nǎlǐ?</span> <span class="trans">Where are you planning to go after work?</span>
 
* <strong>下班 以后</strong> 你 <em>要</em> 去 哪里 ? <span class="pinyin"><strong>Xiàbān yǐhòu</strong> nǐ <em>yào</em> qù nǎlǐ?</span> <span class="trans">Where are you planning to go after work?</span>
 
* 我 <strong>下午</strong><em>要</em>  去 你 家。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>xiàwǔ</strong> <em>yào</em> qù nǐ jiā.</span> <span class="trans">I am going to your place this afternoon.</span>
 
* 我 <strong>下午</strong><em>要</em>  去 你 家。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>xiàwǔ</strong> <em>yào</em> qù nǐ jiā.</span> <span class="trans">I am going to your place this afternoon.</span>
* 你 <strong>明天</strong><em>要</em> 回 美国 吗? <span class="pinyin"> nǐ <strong>míngtiān</strong> <em>yào</em> huí měiguó ma?</span> <span class="trans">Are you going back to the U.S. tomorrow? </span>
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* 你 <strong>明天</strong><em>要</em> 回 美国 吗? <span class="pinyin"> nǐ <strong>míngtiān</strong> <em>yào</em> huí Měiguó ma?</span> <span class="trans">Are you going back to the U.S. tomorrow? </span>
  
 
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Revision as of 07:36, 11 August 2015

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-indicating expression, which may be placed before or after the subject.

Subject + 要 + Verb

Examples


  • 去 你家 吃 晚饭 。 yào qù nǐ jiā chī wǎnfàn.I'm going to your place to have dinner.
  • 今 年 学 中文 。 jīnnián yào xué Zhōngwén.I am planning to learn Chinese this year.
  • 下 个 月 去 中国 工作 。 xià gè yuè yào qù Zhōngguó gōngzuò.I am going to China to work next month.
  • 星期天 去 北京 。 Xīngqītiānyào qù Běijīng. I am going to Beijing on Sunday.
  • 等会儿 给 妈妈 打电话 。 děnghuǐr yào gěi māma dǎ diànhuà. I am going to call my mom in a little bit.
  • 出去。 yào chūqù.I am going out.
  • 明天 买 一 个 iPhone 。 míngtiān yào mǎi yī gè iPhone.I am going to buy an iPhone tomorrow.
  • 下班 以后 去 哪里 ? Xiàbān yǐhòuyào qù nǎlǐ? Where are you planning to go after work?
  • 下午 去 你 家。 xiàwǔ yào qù nǐ jiā. I am going to your place this afternoon.
  • 明天 回 美国 吗? míngtiān yào huí Měiguó ma? Are you going back to the U.S. tomorrow?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries