愿意

• Pinyin: yuàn yì
• Hanzi breakdown: 愿 = 原 (source) + 心 (heart), meaning 'wish/willing'; 意 = 音 (sound) + 心 (heart), meaning 'intention'

Meaning

To be willing; to want to; willing. Expresses voluntary desire or consent to do something.

Used to express willingness or desire. Can be used in questions to ask if someone is willing: 你愿意吗？(Are you willing?). Common in both everyday and formal contexts. The negative form 不愿意 means 'unwilling.' Famously used in Chinese wedding ceremonies: 你愿意嫁给他吗？

Examples

1. 我愿意帮你。 I'm willing to help you.
2. 他不愿意去那么远的地方。 He doesn't want to go somewhere so far away.
3. 你愿意和我一起去吗？ Would you like to go with me?

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, conversation, formal

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你愿意等一下吗？(Are you willing to wait a moment?)
• 我很愿意参加。(I'm very willing to participate.)

Don't Say

• 我愿意了去学校。(Don't put 了 between 愿意 and the verb — say 我愿意去学校 or 我愿意了 as a standalone answer.)

Origin & History

Compound of 愿 (wish/willing) and 意 (intention), literally 'willing intention' — having the intention and desire to do something.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal