Expressing Future in Chinese 1 – huì and yào

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, there are two words that can express the future: 會会 huì and 要 yào. While they share some similarities, they are not exactly the same. Generally, 會会 huì conveys a more passive sense of possibility, while 要 yào conveys a more active sense of intention or necessity.

會会 huì

This is not a matter of your willingness or decision, it is simply a statement about a future fact.

我wǒ明年míngnián會huì去qù上海shànghǎi工作gōngzuò我wǒ明年míngnián会huì去qù上海shànghǎi工作gōngzuò
I will be working in Shanghai next year.
(It is more of a strictly factual expression. Not about my decision.)

他tā下xià星期三xīngqísān不會búhuì來lái公司gōngsī他tā下xià星期三xīngqīsān不会búhuì来lái公司gōngsī
He will not come to the office next Wednesday.
(It is not like he is available, but he doesn’t want to come.)

你nǐ買mǎi的de東西dōngxī下xià個ge月yuè會huì到dào你nǐ买mǎi的de东西dōngxi下xià个ge月yuè会huì到dào
Your purchase will arrive next month.
(It’s not like you can decide the date you want it to arrive. It’s also not about your willingness. Just a simple fact.)

明天míngtiān會huì下雨xiàyǔ明天míngtiān会huì下雨xiàyǔ
It’s going to rain tomorrow.
(Again, you cannot decide whether tomorrow is raining or not. It’s also not about your willingness. Just a simple fact.)

你nǐ明天míngtiān會huì去qù他的tāde生日shēngrì派對pàiduì嗎ma？ 你nǐ明天míngtiān会huì去qù他的tāde生日shēngrì派对pàiduì吗ma？
Are you going to his birthday party tomorrow?
(It is a more neutral question, simply asking whether you will attend the party or not.)

要 yào

It emphasizes your willingness and decision.

我wǒ明年míngnián要yào去qù上海shànghǎi工作gōngzuò我wǒ明年míngnián要yào去qù上海shànghǎi工作gōngzuò
I am going to work in Shanghai next year.
(It shows I want to go to Shanghai. This is my decision.)

他tā下xià星期三xīngqīsān不要búyào來lái公司gōngsī他tā下xià星期三xīngqīsān不要búyào来lái公司gōngsī
He will not come to the office next Wednesday.
(He doesn’t want to show up on that day.)

明天míngtiān一定yídìng要yào下雨xiàyǔ明天míngtiān一定yídìng要yào下雨xiàyǔ
It must rain tomorrow.
(This sentence is not a fact. It’s your wish, your will.)

你nǐ明天míngtiān要yào去qù他的tāde生日shēngrì派對pàiduì嗎ma？ 你nǐ明天míngtiān要yào去qù他的tāde生日shēngrì派对pàiduì吗ma？
Are you going to his birthday party tomorrow?
(It shows a stronger intention, and may sound more like an invitation or request.)

你nǐ這zhè週末zhōumò要yào去qù哪nǎ？ 你nǐ这zhè周末zhōumò要yào去qù哪儿nǎr？
Where are you going this weekend?

• Difference between 想 xiǎng and 要 yào

• Difference between 會会 huì, 可以 kěyǐ and 能 néng

• Expressing Future in Chinese 2 – 將将 jiāng (HSK 5)