Chinese Future Tense: Complete Guide to 会, 要, 将 with Exercises
Introduction: Understanding Future Tense in Chinese
One of the most liberating aspects of learning Chinese is discovering that verbs don't conjugate for tense. Unlike English, Spanish, or French, Chinese verbs remain the same whether you're talking about the past, present, or future. So how to use future tense in Chinese if verbs don't change? The answer lies in context, time words, and a handful of auxiliary words that signal future meaning.
In Chinese, the future is expressed through:
- Time words (tomorrow, next week, in the future)
- Auxiliary words like 会 (huì), 要 (yào), and 将 (jiāng)
- Context from the conversation
This guide will show you exactly how to express future actions and events naturally in Mandarin Chinese.
Formation: How to Express Future Tense in Chinese
There are several ways to indicate future tense in Chinese. Here are the main methods:
| Method | Chinese | Pinyin | Usage | Formality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time words alone | 明天、下周 | míngtiān, xià zhōu | Simple future statements | Neutral |
| 会 + verb | 会 | huì | Predictions, likelihood, learned skills | Neutral |
| 要 + verb | 要 | yào | Intentions, plans, imminent actions | Informal |
| 将 + verb | 将/将要 | jiāng/jiāng yào | Formal announcements, written Chinese | Formal |
| 快要/就要 + verb + 了 | 快要...了 | kuài yào...le | Something about to happen | Neutral |
Using 会 (huì) for Future
The word 会 is one of the most common ways to express future tense. It indicates probability, prediction, or something that will happen:
Structure: Subject + 会 + Verb + Object
Negative: Subject + 不会 + Verb + Object
Using 要 (yào) for Future
The word 要 expresses intention, desire, or an action about to happen:
Structure: Subject + 要 + Verb + Object
Negative: Subject + 不想 + Verb + Object (not 不要, which means "don't!")
Using 将 (jiāng) for Future
The word 将 (or 将要) is more formal and often used in written Chinese, news broadcasts, or official announcements:
Structure: Subject + 将(要) + Verb + Object
Negative: Subject + 将不会 + Verb + Object
Usage: When and How to Use Each Method
Time Words Alone
Often, simply adding a future time word is enough to indicate future tense. The verb stays exactly the same:
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 今天 | jīntiān | today |
| 明天 | míngtiān | tomorrow |
| 后天 | hòutiān | day after tomorrow |
| 下周 | xià zhōu | next week |
| 下个月 | xià gè yuè | next month |
| 明年 | míngnián | next year |
| 以后 | yǐhòu | later, in the future |
| 将来 | jiānglái | in the future |
| 过几天 | guò jǐ tiān | in a few days |
| 下下周 | xià xià zhōu | the week after next |
会 vs. 要 vs. 将: Complete Comparison
| 会 (huì) | 要 (yào) | 将 (jiāng) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core meaning | Prediction, probability | Intention, plan | Will (formal) |
| Speaker's role | Observer / uncertain | Active participant | Neutral announcer |
| Formality | Neutral | Informal / neutral | Formal / written |
| Negation | 不会 | 不想 / 不用 | 将不会 |
| Weather | 明天会下雨 | ✗ (no volition) | 明天将有大雨 |
| Personal plan | ✗ (sounds like guess) | 我要去中国 | ✗ (too formal) |
| News/official | ✗ (too casual) | ✗ (too casual) | 总统将访问... |
Using 快要...了 and 就要...了 for Imminent Future
When something is about to happen very soon, use these patterns:
- 快要...了 (kuài yào...le) - about to, almost going to (no specific time)
- 就要...了 (jiù yào...le) - about to (often with a specific time)
- 快...了 (kuài...le) - shorter, more colloquial version
The 了 at the end is essential—it signals the change of state or imminent action.
Key difference between 快要 and 就要:
| Pattern | Time word? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 快要...了 | No specific time | 快要下雨了。 (It's about to rain.) |
| 就要...了 | Can have specific time | 飞机三点就要起飞了。 (The plane is about to take off at 3.) |
| 快...了 | No specific time | 快下雨了。 (It's about to rain.) |
Examples: Future Tense in Action
明天我去北京。
Míngtiān wǒ qù Běijīng.
Tomorrow I'm going to Beijing. (Time word alone)
她会说三种语言。
Tā huì shuō sān zhǒng yǔyán.
She will be able to speak three languages. / She can speak three languages. (会 for ability/future capability)
我要学中文。
Wǒ yào xué Zhōngwén.
I'm going to study Chinese. / I want to study Chinese. (要 for intention)
会议将于下午三点开始。
Huìyì jiāng yú xiàwǔ sān diǎn kāishǐ.
The meeting will begin at 3 PM. (将 for formal announcement)
火车快要到了！
Huǒchē kuài yào dào le!
The train is about to arrive! (快要...了 for imminent action)
他们下个月要结婚。
Tāmen xià gè yuè yào jiéhūn.
They're getting married next month. (Time word + 要 for planned future event)
我想明年她会来看我们。
Wǒ xiǎng míngnián tā huì lái kàn wǒmen.
I think she will come visit us next year. (会 for prediction)
中国经济将继续增长。
Zhōngguó jīngjì jiāng jìxù zēngzhǎng.
China's economy will continue to grow. (将 in formal/written context)
电影就要开始了，快进来！
Diànyǐng jiù yào kāishǐ le, kuài jìnlái!
The movie is about to start, come in quickly! (就要...了 for urgency)
你不用担心，一切都会好的。
Nǐ bùyòng dānxīn, yīqiè dōu huì hǎo de.
Don't worry, everything will be fine. (会 for reassurance/prediction)
Negative Future: How to Say "Won't"
Each future marker has its own negation pattern. Using the wrong negation is a common mistake:
| Positive | Negative | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 会 + verb | 不会 + verb | 他不会来。 | He won't come. (prediction) |
| 要 + verb | 不想 + verb | 我不想去。 | I don't want to go. |
| 要 + verb | 不用 + verb | 你不用等。 | You don't need to wait. |
| 将 + verb | 将不会 + verb | 这将不会影响... | This will not affect... |
| 快要...了 | (no standard negation) | — | Use 还没 instead for "not yet" |
Important: 不要 (bùyào) does NOT mean "won't" — it means "don't!" (a command). To say "I don't want to go," use 不想去, not *不要去 (which means "Don't go!").
Common Mistakes: What Learners Often Get Wrong
1. Adding Tense Markers to Verbs
Wrong: Trying to conjugate Chinese verbs or add endings like in European languages.
Remember: Chinese verbs never change form. 去 (qù, "go") is always 去, whether past, present, or future.
2. Overusing 会 (huì)
Wrong: *明天我会去超市买菜。 (when you have a definite plan)
Better: 明天我去超市买菜。 or 明天我要去超市买菜。
When you have a specific plan, time words or 要 are often more natural than 会.
3. Confusing 会 and 要
Wrong: Using 会 when expressing personal intention.
*我会去中国学习。 (sounds like a prediction about yourself)
Better: 我要去中国学习。 (I'm going to study in China—my plan)
4. Forgetting 了 with 快要/就要
Wrong: *电影快要开始。
Correct: 电影快要开始了。
The 了 is required to complete this grammatical pattern.
5. Using 将 in Casual Conversation
Awkward: 我将去吃午饭。 (I shall go eat lunch—sounds overly formal)
Natural: 我要去吃午饭了。
Reserve 将 for formal contexts, news, or written Chinese.
6. Redundant Future Markers
Redundant: *明天我会要去... (using both 会 and 要)
Better: Choose one: 明天我会去... or 明天我要去...
7. Using 不要 as "won't"
Wrong: *我不要去。 (meaning "I won't go")
This actually means: "I don't want to go!" / "I refuse to go!" (strong rejection)
For prediction: 我不会去。 (I won't go.)
For intention: 我不想去。 (I don't want to go.)
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Choose 会, 要, or 将
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate future marker:
- 明天___下雨，带把伞吧。(prediction about weather)
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会 — 明天会下雨，带把伞吧。(It will rain tomorrow, bring an umbrella.) Weather predictions use 会 because there's no personal volition involved. - 我暑假___去日本旅游。(personal plan)
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要 — 我暑假要去日本旅游。(I'm going to travel to Japan during summer break.) Personal plans and intentions use 要. - 新政策___于下月实施。(government announcement)
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将 — 新政策将于下月实施。(The new policy will be implemented next month.) Formal announcements use 将. - 别担心，他___理解你的。(reassurance)
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会 — 别担心，他会理解你的。(Don't worry, he'll understand you.) Predictions and reassurances use 会. - 我毕业以后___找一份好工作。(intention)
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要 — 我毕业以后要找一份好工作。(After graduation I'm going to find a good job.) Personal intention uses 要.
Exercise 2: Fix the Mistakes
Each sentence contains an error related to future tense. Find and correct it:
- 电影快要开始。
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电影快要开始了。 — Missing 了 at the end. The 快要...了 pattern requires 了 to signal the imminent change. - 我不要去他的派对。(intended meaning: "I won't go")
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我不会去他的派对。 or 我不想去他的派对。 — 不要 sounds like a strong refusal/command. Use 不会 for prediction or 不想 for "don't want to." - 我将去吃晚饭了。(casual conversation with friend)
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我要去吃晚饭了。 — 将 is too formal for casual conversation. Use 要 instead. - 明天我会要去看医生。
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明天我要去看医生。 or 明天我会去看医生。 — Don't combine 会 and 要. Pick one based on whether it's a plan (要) or prediction (会).
Exercise 3: Translate to Chinese
Translate each sentence using the most natural future expression:
- I'm going to buy a new phone next week.
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我下周要买一部新手机。 (Wǒ xià zhōu yào mǎi yī bù xīn shǒujī.) — Personal plan → 要 + time word. - It will snow tomorrow.
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明天会下雪。 (Míngtiān huì xià xuě.) — Weather prediction → 会. - The train is about to leave!
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火车快要开了！ (Huǒchē kuài yào kāi le!) — Imminent action → 快要...了. - She won't come to the party.
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她不会来参加派对。 (Tā bù huì lái cānjiā pàiduì.) — Negative prediction → 不会.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Chinese have a future tense?
Strictly speaking, no — Chinese does not have grammatical tense the way European languages do. Verbs never change form. Instead, Chinese uses context, time words (明天, 下周), and auxiliary words (会, 要, 将) to indicate that an action will happen in the future. This is why linguists say Chinese has "future expression" rather than "future tense."
When should I use 会 vs. 要?
Use 会 for predictions and things outside your control: 明天会下雨 (It will rain tomorrow). Use 要 for your own plans and intentions: 我要去中国 (I'm going to go to China). A simple test: if you could replace the word with "probably will," use 会. If you could replace it with "plan to" or "going to," use 要.
Can I just use time words without 会 or 要?
Yes, and native speakers often do. 明天我去北京 (Tomorrow I go to Beijing) is perfectly natural — the time word 明天 already signals future. Adding 会 or 要 provides extra nuance (prediction vs. intention) but isn't always necessary. When in doubt and speaking casually, a time word alone is safe.
What's the difference between 快要...了 and 就要...了?
Both mean "about to," but 就要 can be used with a specific time: 飞机三点就要起飞了 (The plane is about to take off at 3). 快要 cannot take a specific time — it just means "soon": 快要下雨了 (It's about to rain). In casual speech, 快...了 (without 要) is also common: 快下雨了.