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

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* 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>
 
* 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 等会儿<em>要</em> 给 妈妈 打电话 。  <span class="pinyin">Wǒ děnghuǐr <em>yào</em> gěi māma dǎ diànhuà.</span> <span class="trans">I am going to call my mom in a little bit.</span>
 
* 我 等会儿<em>要</em> 给 妈妈 打电话 。  <span class="pinyin">Wǒ děnghuǐr <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">wǒ <em>yào</em> chūqù.</span><span class="trans">Pardon me, I am going out real quick.</span>
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* 我 <em>要</em> 出去。 <span class="pinyin">wǒ <em>yào</em> chūqù.</span><span class="trans">I am going out.</span>
 
* 我 明天 <em>要</em> 买 一 个 iPhone 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ míngtiān <em>yào</em> mǎi yī gè iPhone.</span><span class="trans">I am going to buy an iPhone tomorrow.</span>
 
* 我 明天 <em>要</em> 买 一 个 iPhone 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ míngtiān <em>yào</em> mǎi yī gè iPhone.</span><span class="trans">I am going to buy an iPhone tomorrow.</span>
 
* 下班 以后 你 <em>要</em> 去 哪里 ? <span class="pinyin">Xiàbān yǐhòu nǐ <em>yào</em> qù nǎlǐ?</span> <span class="trans">Where are you planning to go after work?</span>
 
* 下班 以后 你 <em>要</em> 去 哪里 ? <span class="pinyin">Xiàbān yǐhòu nǐ <em>yào</em> qù nǎlǐ?</span> <span class="trans">Where are you planning to go after work?</span>
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==See also==
 
==See also==

Revision as of 08:21, 25 June 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. Because of the time indication, the following examples show that the subject wants and plans to do the action stated.

Subject + 要 + Verb

Examples


  • 去 你家 吃 晚饭 。 yào qù nǐjiāchī wǎnfàn.I'm going to your place to have supper .
  • 我 今 年 学 中文 。 Wǒ jīnnián yào xué Zhōngwén.I am planning to learn Chinese this year.
  • 我 下 个 月 去 中国 工作 。 Wǒ xià gè yuè yào qù Zhōngguó gōngzuò.I am going to China to work next month.
  • 星期天 我 去 北京 。 Xīngqītiān wǒ yào qù Běijīng. I am going to Beijing on Sunday.
  • 我 等会儿 给 妈妈 打电话 。 Wǒ 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.
  • 我 明天 买 一 个 iPhone 。 Wǒ míngtiān yào mǎi yī gè iPhone.I am going to buy an iPhone tomorrow.
  • 下班 以后 你 去 哪里 ? Xiàbān yǐhòu nǐ yào qù nǎlǐ? Where are you planning to go after work?
  • 我 下午 去 你家。 Wǒ xiàwǔyào qù nǐjiā. I am going to your place this afternoon. Do you want to go?
  • 你 明天 回 美国 吗? nǐ míngtiānyàohuí měiguó ma? Are you going back to the U.S. tomorrow?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries