要
yào
To want, need, to intend to do something
How to say “be going to” in Chinese with 要 (yào)
Subj. + 要 (yào) + Verb (+ 了 (le))
要 (yào) — be going to, will
HSK 2Auxiliary verbs
Subj. + 要 (yào) + Verb (+ 了 (le))
HSK 2Auxiliary verbs要 (yào) — be going to, will
Rule structure
To express "be going to" or future intention, 要 (yào) is placed before the main verb. It indicates a plan or something that is about to happen. It is often used with a time word.
Rule structure
To express "be going to" or future intention, 要 (yào) is placed before the main verb. It indicates a plan or something that is about to happen. It is often used with a time word.
Examples
我要走了。
Wǒ yào zǒu le.
I am going to leave.
他们要吃饭了。
Tāmen yào chīfàn le.
They are going to eat.
我要去买东西。
Wǒ yào qù mǎi Dōngxī.
I am going to go buy things.
Examples
我要走了。
Wǒ yào zǒu le.
I am going to leave.
他们要吃饭了。
Tāmen yào chīfàn le.
They are going to eat.
我要去买东西。
Wǒ yào qù mǎi Dōngxī.
I am going to go buy things.
Practice
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Frequently asked questions
How do you say “be going to, will” in Chinese with 要?
Use the structure: Subj. + 要 (yào) + Verb (+ 了 (le)). For example: 我要走了。 — “I am going to leave”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
我要走了。 — “I am going to leave”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 2.
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More HSK 2 grammar rules
要 — want, need, going to
要 (yào) + Noun / 要 (yào) + Verb
要 — wanting to do something
要 (yào) + Verb
可以 — permission, may
可以 (kěyǐ) + Verb
了 — already done
Subj. + Verb Phrase + 了 (le)
最 — superlative “most”
最 (zuì) + Adj. (+ 了 (le))
到 — direction with “to go to”
到 (dào) + Place + 去 (qù)
虽然 — although… but…
虽然 (suīrán)⋯⋯，但是 (dànshì) / 可是 (kěshì)⋯⋯
一下 — verbing briefly
Verb + 一下 (yíxià)