Expressing "be going to" with "yao"

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.

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

我明天要买一个 iPhone。
Wǒ míngtiān yào mǎi yī gè iPhone.
I am going to buy an iPhone tomorrow.
你们现在要出去吗？
Nǐmen xiànzài yào chūqù ma?
Are you all going out now?
我们今年要去美国。
Wǒmen jīnnián yào qù Měiguó.
We are planning to go to the U.S. this year.
他下个月要来中国工作。
Tā xià gè yuè yào lái Zhōngguó gōngzuò.
He is coming to China to work next month.
你下个星期要去她家吃晚饭吗？
Nǐ xià gè xīngqī yào qù tā jiā chī wǎnfàn ma?
Are you going to her place for dinner next week?
这个星期天你要做什么？
Zhège Xīngqītiān nǐ yào zuò shénme?
What are you doing this Sunday?
我晚上要给妈妈打电话。
Wǒ wǎnshang yào gěi māma dǎ diànhuà.
I am going to call my mom this evening.
下午老师要来我家。
Xiàwǔ lǎoshī yào lái wǒ jiā.
The teacher is coming to my place this afternoon.
老板明天要见他们吗？
Lǎobǎn míngtiān yào jiàn tāmen ma?
Is the boss going to meet them tomorrow?
下班以后你要回家吗？
Xiàbān yǐhòu nǐ yào huíjiā ma?
Are you planning to go home after getting off work?

Expressing "be going to" with "yào" "要"

Contents

Structure

Examples

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries