Meanings of 将
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About 将
Podcast: 将
Podcast: 将
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AI Study Notes for 将
将 (jiāng) vs 要 (yào) — use 将 for a more formal or definite future intention, while 要 indicates a desire or need.
Common mistakes include confusing 将 with similar characters like 要 (yào), which also indicates future intention but in a different context. It is generally more formal and is often used in written Chinese and formal speech. Be careful with its position in a sentence; it often comes before the object.
将 is relevant for learners at HSK 3 and above as it introduces future tense structures. Students should practice its usage in sentences that express intentions or plans, linking it to verbs to enhance understanding.
Learners often mistakenly use 将 in place of other future indicators like 会 (huì). For example, saying '我将去' instead of '我会去' is incorrect if you mean 'I will go' in a casual context.
Pronunciation of 将
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Etymology of 将
Simplified form of 將. Depicts a hand (寸) taking a piece of meat (肉), conveying the meaning "take". 爿 (qiáng) is a sound component.
Going to bed 丬 at night 夕, a predictable future
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 将
Simplified form of 將. Depicts a hand (寸) taking a piece of meat (肉), conveying the meaning "take". 爿 (qiáng) is a sound component.
- 1The giveawayGoing to bed 丬 at night 夕, a predictable future
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 将? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 将
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How to say will in Chinese
“will” in Chinese is将
The character 将 (jiāng) is a versatile term with several meanings, including 'to will,' 'to command,' and 'to take.' It is often used in future tense constructions to indicate intention or action that will occur, as well as in military contexts to denote a general or commander-in-chief.
When to use 将
Common mistakes include confusing 将 with similar characters like 要 (yào), which also indicates future intention but in a different context. It is generally more formal and is often used in written Chinese and formal speech. Be careful with its position in a sentence; it often comes before the object.
将 or something close to it
将 (jiāng) vs 要 (yào) — use 将 for a more formal or definite future intention, while 要 indicates a desire or need.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 将 in place of other future indicators like 会 (huì). For example, saying '我将去' instead of '我会去' is incorrect if you mean 'I will go' in a casual context.
Write 将
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Practice writing 将 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 将
将 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 16 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
Used to indicate a future action or intention.
我将去北京。
I will go to Beijing.
Used to indicate the action of doing something with an object.
我们将会议进行。
We will conduct the meeting.
Complete the Sentence
同学们即____毕业。
The students are about to graduate.
Common Confusions with 将
Similar pronunciation but different meaning.
Spot the Difference
Which character means "will"?
Usage Notes for 将
将 can be used interchangeably with 会 (huì) to indicate future actions, though 将 is more formal.
他将会到达。
He will arrive.
Fill in the Blank
他____会到达。
He will arrive.
Example Sentences for 将 (10)
Cultural Notes for 将
在古代汉语中，将不仅用来表示将来时，还常用于军事指挥。将军这个词就是由此而来，表示军队的领导者。
Word Family of 将
Compound Meaning
What does 蒋 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 将
将 (jiāng) and 会 (huì) both indicate future actions, but they are used differently. 将 is often used to express a planned action or intention, while 会 typically refers to a skill or ability to do something in the future, like 'I will be able to'.
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