Lesson 5: Making Plans

Express intentions and future plans using 打算, 准备, 要, and 会 in natural Chinese.

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Overview

Chinese has several ways to express future plans and intentions, and choosing the right one conveys exactly how committed or certain you are. 打算 suggests a thought-out plan, 准备 implies active preparation, 要 signals a firm decision, and 会 expresses expectation or likelihood. This lesson covers all four and shows how they fit into real conversations about upcoming events.

Learning Objectives

  • Use 打算 + V to express a considered plan
  • Use 准备 + V to convey that preparation is underway
  • Use 要 to state a definite intention
  • Use 会 to predict or expect future outcomes
  • Combine time words with plan structures naturally

Vocabulary

Character Pinyin Type Meaning Example
打算 dǎsuàn v to plan, to intend 我打算去旅行。
准备 zhǔnbèi v to prepare, to plan 我准备换工作。
计划 jìhuà n/v plan; to plan 这是我的计划。
希望 xīwàng v/n to hope; hope 我希望明年去日本。
会 huì aux will, can 明天会下雨。
要 yào aux want to, going to 我要去健身房。
决定 juédìng v to decide 我决定不去了。
打算 dǎsuàn v plan to 你打算怎么办？
以后 yǐhòu adv after, in the future 以后我想自己创业。
明年 míngnián n next year 明年我们搬家。
下个月 xià gè yuè n next month 下个月考试。
周末 zhōumò n weekend 周末打算做什么？
旅游 lǚyóu v/n to travel; travel 我喜欢旅游。
换 huàn v to change, to swap 我想换一份工作。

Grammar Focus

Pattern 1: 打算 + Verb Phrase

Structure: Subject + 打算 + Verb Phrase

打算 introduces a deliberate plan, something you have thought about. It does not carry urgency or certainty; it is more like "I'm planning to."

Chinese Pinyin English
我打算明年去欧洲旅游。 Wǒ dǎsuàn míngnián qù Ōuzhōu lǚyóu. I'm planning to travel to Europe next year.
她打算换工作。 Tā dǎsuàn huàn gōngzuò. She is planning to change jobs.
你打算怎么学中文？ Nǐ dǎsuàn zěnme xué Zhōngwén? How are you planning to learn Chinese?
我们打算周末去爬山。 Wǒmen dǎsuàn zhōumò qù páshān. We are planning to go hiking this weekend.

Common mistake: 打算 is followed by a verb phrase, not a noun. Do not say 我打算旅游 without a destination or activity verb; say 我打算去旅游 or 我打算去欧洲旅游.

Pattern 2: 准备 + Verb Phrase

Structure: Subject + 准备 + Verb Phrase

准备 as an auxiliary suggests you are getting ready for something. It implies active preparation rather than just intention.

Chinese Pinyin English
我准备明天考试。 Wǒ zhǔnbèi míngtiān kǎoshì. I am preparing for tomorrow's exam.
他准备下个月结婚。 Tā zhǔnbèi xià gè yuè jiéhūn. He is getting ready to get married next month.
我们准备开会了。 Wǒmen zhǔnbèi kāi huì le. We are about to start the meeting.

Common mistake: 准备 can also be used as a regular verb meaning "to prepare something." In 我在准备晚饭 (I am preparing dinner), it means to cook/prepare. In 我准备明天去 (I'm about to go tomorrow), it acts as an auxiliary. Context makes the meaning clear.

Pattern 3: 明天我要 / 我会... (firm intent vs. prediction)

Structure:

  • Strong intent: Subject + 要 + Verb
  • Prediction/expectation: Subject + 会 + Verb
Chinese Pinyin English
我明天要去医院。 Wǒ míngtiān yào qù yīyuàn. I'm going to the hospital tomorrow. (firm)
明天会下雨。 Míngtiān huì xià yǔ. It will rain tomorrow. (prediction)
他下周一定会来。 Tā xià zhōu yīdìng huì lái. He will definitely come next week.
我要努力学习！ Wǒ yào nǔlì xuéxí! I'm going to study hard! (firm resolve)

Common mistake: 会 has two meanings: "can/know how to" and "will (prediction)." Context tells them apart. 我会游泳 (I can swim) vs. 他明天会来 (He will come tomorrow).

Dialogue

A: 你这个周末打算做什么？ Nǐ zhège zhōumò dǎsuàn zuò shénme? What are you planning to do this weekend?

B: 我准备去图书馆复习，下周有考试。 Wǒ zhǔnbèi qù túshūguǎn fùxí, xià zhōu yǒu kǎoshì. I'm planning to go to the library to review. There's an exam next week.

A: 那下个月有什么计划吗？ Nà xià gè yuè yǒu shénme jìhuà ma? Do you have any plans for next month?

B: 我打算去云南旅游。已经买了机票了。 Wǒ dǎsuàn qù Yúnnán lǚyóu. Yǐjīng mǎi le jīpiào le. I'm planning to travel to Yunnan. I've already bought the ticket.

A: 太棒了！你希望去看什么？ Tài bàng le! Nǐ xīwàng qù kàn shénme? That's great! What do you hope to see?

B: 我希望去看梯田，还要尝一尝当地的食物。 Wǒ xīwàng qù kàn tītián, hái yào cháng yī cháng dāngdì de shíwù. I hope to see the rice terraces, and I also want to try the local food.

A: 听起来很好！我以后也打算去。 Tīng qǐlái hěn hǎo! Wǒ yǐhòu yě dǎsuàn qù. That sounds great! I plan to go someday too.

Practice

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank

Use 打算, 准备, 要, or 希望:

  1. 我 ______ 明年去学日语。(I am planning to study Japanese next year.)
  2. 她 ______ 明天早上六点出发。(She is going to leave at 6 a.m. tomorrow -- firm decision.)
  3. 我们 ______ 开会，大家先到会议室。(We are about to start the meeting, everyone go to the conference room.)
  4. 他 ______ 有一天能去中国工作。(He hopes to work in China someday.)
  5. 你 ______ 怎么过这个假期？(How are you planning to spend this holiday?)

Exercise 2: Translate to Chinese

  1. I am planning to move next month.
  2. What are you going to do after graduation?
  3. She hopes to become a doctor in the future.
  4. We are about to start; please sit down.

Exercise 3: Answer in Chinese

  1. 你这个周末打算做什么？(What are you planning to do this weekend?)
  2. 你希望以后做什么工作？(What kind of work do you hope to do in the future?)
  3. 你打算什么时候去中国？(When are you planning to go to China?)

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, sharing plans with friends, family, and colleagues is considered natural and relationship-affirming, not oversharing. When someone asks 你有什么计划? (What are your plans?), giving a genuine answer is expected and welcomed. Chinese people often plan group activities together in advance rather than making individual arrangements, and inviting others to join your plans with 你要不要一起来? (Do you want to come along?) is a common and friendly gesture.