“Willing” in Chinese – yuànyì

Grammar Point:
願愿意 yuànyì is a Chinese term that conveys the meaning of “willing” in English. It is commonly used to indicate a person’s willingness or readiness to do something.

Structure

S + 願意/愿意 + V

我wǒ願意yuànyì幫助bāngzhù你nǐ我wǒ愿意yuànyì帮助bāngzhù你nǐ
I am willing to help you.

他tā願意yuànyì參加cānjiā我們wǒmen的de計劃jìhuà他tā愿意yuànyì参加cānjiā我们wǒmen的de计划jìhuà
He is willing to participate in our project.

你nǐ願意yuànyì和hé我wǒ一起yìqǐ去qù嗎ma？ 你nǐ愿意yuànyì和hé我wǒ一起yìqǐ去qù吗ma？
Are you willing to go with me?

她tā不bú願意yuànyì跟gēn他tā結婚jiéhūn她tā不bú愿意yuànyì跟gēn他tā结婚jiéhūn
She is not willing to marry him.

你nǐ願意yuànyì嫁jià給gěi我wǒ嗎ma？ 你nǐ愿意yuànyì嫁jià给gěi我wǒ吗ma？
Are you willing to marry me?
(It is typically used by a male proposing to a female.)

你nǐ願意yuànyì娶qǔ我wǒ嗎ma？ 你nǐ愿意yuànyì娶qǔ我wǒ吗ma？
Are you willing to marry me?
(It is typically used by a female proposing to a male.)

FYI
If you’re a gay couple, you’re free to choose either term. Speak of the gay marriage, marriage equality in Taiwan is a big deal! On May 17, 2019, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. It all started with a court ruling in 2017 that said the existing laws were unfair. After a lot of discussion, the government passed a law that allows same-sex couples to marry and enjoy the same rights as heterosexual couples. It’s a significant step for LGBTQ+ rights in Taiwan and an inspiration for other countries. Yay for love and equality!

How about “willingness”

Simple, just switch the two words and it becomes 意願愿 yìyuàn (williness) in Chinese.

我wǒ沒有méiyǒu去qù中國Zhōngguó工作gōngzuò的de意願yìyuàn我wǒ没有méiyǒu去qù中国Zhōngguó工作gōngzuò的de意愿yìyuàn
I have no willingness to work in China.

看起來kànqǐlái大家dàjiā對duì參加cānjiā這個zhège活動huódòng的de意願yìyuàn不bù高gāo看起来kànqǐlái大家dàjiā对duì参加cānjiā这个zhège活动huódòng的de意愿yìyuàn不bù高gāo
It seems that people’s willingness to participate in this activity is low.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ Would you be willing to move to Shanghai?

你nǐ願意yuànyì搬bān來lái上海shànghǎi嗎ma？ 你nǐ愿意yuànyì搬bān来lái上海shànghǎi吗ma？

✔️ The company is unwilling to increase my salary.

公司gōngsī不bú願意yuànyì提高tígāo我的wǒde薪水xīnshuǐ公司gōngsī不bú愿意yuànyì提高tígāo我的wǒde工资gōngzī

✔️ Would you be willing to click on the advertisement for me?😇

你nǐ願意yuànyì幫bāng我wǒ點diǎn一下yíxià廣告guǎnggào嗎ma？ 你nǐ愿意yuànyì帮bāng我wǒ点diǎn一下yíxià广告guǎnggào吗ma？