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

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*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 America 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 America this year.</span>
 
* 他 <strong>下 个 月</strong> <em>要</em> 来 中国 工作。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <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>
 
* 他 <strong>下 个 月</strong> <em>要</em> 来 中国 工作。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <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>
* 这 个 <strong>星期天</strong> <em>要</em> 去 北京。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè ge <strong>xīngqītiān</strong> wǒ <em>yào</em> qù Běijīng.</span> <span class="trans">I am going to Beijing this Sunday.</span>
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* 这 个 <strong>星期天</strong> <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>
* 你们 <em>要</em> 出去 吗? <span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>yào</em> chūqù.</span><span class="trans">I am going out.</span>
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* 你们 <em>要</em> 出去 吗? <span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>yào</em> chūqù ma?</span><span class="trans">Are you 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>

Revision as of 06:10, 18 September 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.

Subj. + 要 + Verb

Examples


  • 去 你家 吃 晚饭。 yào qù nǐ jiā chī wǎnfàn.I'm going to your place to have dinner.
  • 我们 今 年 去 美国。 Wǒmen jīnnián yào qù měiguó.We are planning to go to America 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.
  • 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.
  • 你们 出去 吗? Nǐmen yào chūqù ma?Are you 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? Míngtiānyào huí Měiguó ma? Are you going back to the U.S. tomorrow?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries