Comparing "dasuan" and "jihua"

打算 (dǎsuàn) and 计划 (jìhuà) are both verbs as well as nouns that mean “to plan” or “to intend”. 打算 is used in informal speech and writing, whereas 计划 is used in formal situations. A key difference between these words is 打算 expresses that a thought or idea to do something exists, but concrete steps or a firm action plan has not yet been finalized, whereas 计划 expresses a thought or idea to do something which not only exists, but also already has a concrete action plan in place to carry out the idea.

B1HSK4ASV4567

	打算 (dǎsuàn)	计划 (jìhuà)
Meaning	to plan, to intend; vague plans	to plan, to intend; a concrete plan
Part of Speech	verb, noun	verb, noun
Formality	informal	formal

:Yes

打算 and 计划 can often be used interchangeably

Common Phrases

In the following examples both 打算 and 计划 can be used.

• 有什么 ～ ？ Yǒu shénme ～ ？ What's the ~?
• ～ 好了 ～ hǎo le it's okay
• 有没有 ～ ？ Yǒuméiyǒu ～ ？ Is there any...?
• 没有 ～méiyǒu ～there is no ～
• 有 ～yǒu ～there is ～

Example Sentences

• 你们公司有没有上市计划？
• 今年的圣诞节你有什么计划？
• 我们 打算 研究 一下 再 决定。Wǒmen dǎsuàn yánjiū yīxià zài juédìng.We are going to look into it before deciding.
• 我计划下个星期去海南度假。
• 我们对这个计划充满了信心。
• 关于 今年 国庆节 去 哪里，我 还 没有 什么 打算 。Guānyú jīnnián Guóqìngjié qù nǎlǐ, wǒ hái méiyǒu shénme dǎsuàn.I don't have any plans yet about where to go for the National Day this year.
• 我 已经 找到 了 新 工作，所以 下个 月 我 打算 辞职。Wǒ yǐjīng zhǎodào le xīn gōngzuò, suǒyǐ xiàge yuè wǒ dǎsuàn cízhí.I have found a new job, so I am planning to quit next month.
• 我计划好了，明天我们先去机场接人再回公司，然后晚上大家一起吃饭。

打算 is common in spoken Chinese for talking about vague plans

This is exactly the word you want when talking about fluid, indefinite weekend plans. You don't have a detailed itinerary with priority rankings for your weekend activities, right? And everything could change last minute, right? Use 打算.

Example Sentences

• 你 今天 晚上 打算 做 什么？Nǐ jīntiān wǎnshang dǎsuàn zuò shénme?What are you planning to do tonight?
• 明天 她 打算 去 看 医生。íngtiān tā dǎsuàn qù kàn yīshēng.Tomorrow she plans to go to the doctor.
• 我 打算 退休 以后 回 老家。Wǒ dǎsuàn tuìxiū yǐhòu huí lǎojiā.I'm planning to go back home after I retire.
• 这个 周末 我 还 没有 什么 打算 。Zhège zhōumò wǒ hái méiyǒu shénme dǎsuàn .I don't have any plans for this weekend yet.
• 明年 我们 打算 换 一 批 新 的 供应 商。Míngnián wǒmen dǎsuàn huàn yī pī xīn de gōngyìng shāng.We are planning to get a new batch of suppliers next year.

计划 often involves long-term future goals

These are the kinds of serious plans related to work, academics, and government policies. Setailed itineraries and timetables with priority rankings and Gantt charts are all on the table when you use 计划.

Common Phrases

• 研究 计划yánjiū jìhuàresearch plan
• 学习 计划xuéxí jìhuàstudy plan
• 一份 计划yī fèn jìhuàa plan
• 做 计划zuò jìhuàto make a plan
• 计划 未来jìhuà wèiláito plan for the future
• 计划 生育jìhuà shēngyùfamily planningbirth control

Example Sentences

• 你 是 怎么 计划 你 的 未来 的？Nǐ shì zěnme jìhuà nǐ de wèilái de?How do you plan your future?
• 这 是 我们 今年 的 研究 计划 。Zhè shì wǒmen jīnnián de yánjiū jìhuà.This is our research plan for this year.
• 这 就 是 那个 病人 的 康复 计划 。Zhè jiù shì nàge bìngrén de kāngfù jìhuà.This is the rehabilitation plan for that patient.
• 今年 我们 计划 关掉 一 个 工厂。Jīnnián wǒmen jìhuà guāndiào yī gè gōngchǎng.This year we plan to shut down a factory.
• 在 你 的 国家 有 计划生育 政策 吗？Zài nǐ de guójiā yǒu jìhuàshēngyù zhèngcè ma?Do you have a family planning policy in your country?
• 我 做 了 一 份 未来 三 年 的 学习 计划。Wǒ zuò le yī fèn wèilái sān nián de xuéxí jìhuà.I've made a study plan for the next three years.

Sources and further reading

Websites

• HiNative: "打算" 和 "计划" 和有什么不一样?

打算和计划的区别 https://site.douban.com/211595/widget/notes/13480437/note/389249782/

打算,计划 https://www.kekeshici.com/hanyuweb/tongfanyici/24565.html