愿意
be willing to, be happy to
Structure
主语 + 愿意 + 动词 · 主语 + 不愿意 + 动词
What it means
愿意 means “be willing to, be happy to”: you agree to do something, often something you were asked or offered.
How it is built
Subject + 愿意 + verb: 我愿意帮你 (I’m happy to help you). Negative: 不愿意 (不太愿意 “not very keen”). It can stand alone as an answer: 愿意！
When to use it
愿意 is about being willing; 想 (h1-10) is about wanting. 你愿意……吗？ is a polite way to ask “would you be willing to …?”: 你愿意跟我一起去吗？
Watch out
Not for plans. ✗ 我明年愿意去中国。 ✓ 我明年打算去中国。 For plans, use 打算 or 要.
Examples
你愿意跟我一起去吗？
Would you like to come with me?
他不愿意住在学校。
He doesn’t want to live on campus.
我愿意帮你，可是今天没时间。
I’m happy to help you, but I haven’t got time today.
Learn this in HSK 2 · Lesson 17: 找工作 (Looking for work)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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