Life plans are rarely neat, right? Sometimes you’re excited, sometimes you’re saving money, and sometimes you’re just trying to find one free hour on your calendar.
Level B1: In this lesson, you’ll practice natural Taiwan Mandarin phrases for talking about future plans with a little nuance. You’ll say you’re trying to make time, still figuring out details, looking forward to something, saving up, or probably not doing something. Yak Yacker says: future you will be proud of present you.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
At B1, talk about flexible future plans without sounding too direct or too vague.
Say you are trying to make time with 我在想辦法挪時間給 ___ (Wǒ zài xiǎng bànfǎ nuó shíjiān gěi ___).
Ask about someone’s plans using 你 ___ 有安排嗎? (Nǐ ___ yǒu ānpái ma?) and ___ 之後你想做什麼? (___ zhīhòu nǐ xiǎng zuò shénme?).
Express anticipation, saving goals, and unlikely plans in a natural spoken way.
Ready? Let's go!
When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.
1. Reading + Listening Practice
Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.
我在想辦法挪時間給 ___。
Wǒ zài xiǎng bànfǎ nuó shíjiān gěi ___。
I'm trying to make time for ___.
Meaning: I'm trying to make time for ___.
When to use: Use this when something matters to you, but your schedule is tight.
Tip: This is about making room in your schedule, not physically moving time.
我在想辦法挪時間給家人。
Wǒ zài xiǎng bànfǎ nuó shíjiān gěi jiārén.
I'm trying to make time for my family.
我在想辦法挪時間給運動。
Wǒ zài xiǎng bànfǎ nuó shíjiān gěi yùndòng.
I'm trying to make time for exercise.
我還得弄清楚 ___。
Wǒ hái děi nòng qīngchǔ ___。
I still have to figure out ___.
Meaning: I still have to figure out ___.
When to use: Use this when details are not confirmed yet, such as time, place, price, or a schedule.
Tip: Do not use it only for big life decisions; it also works for small details you need to confirm.
我還得弄清楚會議地點。
Wǒ hái děi nòng qīngchǔ huìyì dìdiǎn.
I still have to figure out the meeting location.
我還得弄清楚下週的班表。
Wǒ hái děi nòng qīngchǔ xià zhōu de bānbiǎo.
I still have to figure out next week’s work schedule.
我沒有什麼固定計畫。
Wǒ méiyǒu shénme gùdìng jìhuà。
I don't have any fixed plans.
Meaning: I don't have any fixed plans.
When to use: Use this when you are open, undecided, or don’t have a set schedule yet.
今天晚上我沒有什麼固定計畫。
Jīntiān wǎnshàng wǒ méiyǒu shénme gùdìng jìhuà.
I don’t have any fixed plans tonight.
我沒有什麼固定計畫,你想去哪裡?
Wǒ méiyǒu shénme gùdìng jìhuà, nǐ xiǎng qù nǎlǐ?
I don’t have any fixed plans. Where do you want to go?
你 ___ 有安排嗎?
Nǐ ___ yǒu ānpái ma?
Are you doing anything ___?
Meaning: Are you doing anything ___?
When to use: Use this to ask whether someone already has plans at a certain time.
你明天晚上有安排嗎?
Nǐ míngtiān wǎnshàng yǒu ānpái ma?
Are you doing anything tomorrow night?
你這個週末有安排嗎?
Nǐ zhège zhōumò yǒu ānpái ma?
Are you doing anything this weekend?
___ 之後你想做什麼?
___ zhīhòu nǐ xiǎng zuò shénme?
What do you want to do after ___?
Meaning: What do you want to do after ___?
When to use: Use this to ask what someone wants to do after an event, class, work, dinner, or another activity.
下班之後你想做什麼?
Xiàbān zhīhòu nǐ xiǎng zuò shénme?
What do you want to do after work?
吃飯之後你想做什麼?
Chīfàn zhīhòu nǐ xiǎng zuò shénme?
What do you want to do after eating?
我很期待 ___。
Wǒ hěn qídài ___。
I'm looking forward to ___.
Meaning: I'm looking forward to ___.
When to use: Use this to show positive excitement about a future event, trip, class, or meeting.
我很期待週末的旅行。
Wǒ hěn qídài zhōumò de lǚxíng.
I’m looking forward to the weekend trip.
我很期待見到你。
Wǒ hěn qídài jiàn dào nǐ.
I’m looking forward to seeing you.
我在為 ___ 存錢。
Wǒ zài wèi ___ cún qián。
I'm saving up for ___.
Meaning: I'm saving up for ___.
When to use: Use this when you are preparing financially for a future goal, like travel, a purchase, or study.
我在為日本旅行存錢。
Wǒ zài wèi Rìběn lǚxíng cún qián.
I’m saving up for a trip to Japan.
我在為新的筆電存錢。
Wǒ zài wèi xīn de bǐdiàn cún qián.
I’m saving up for a new laptop.
我應該不會 ___。
Wǒ yīnggāi bú huì ___。
I don't think I'll ___.
Meaning: I don't think I'll ___.
When to use: Use this when a future action is unlikely, but you want to sound softer than a firm no.
Tip: This sounds softer and less final than saying you definitely will not do something.
我應該不會搬家。
Wǒ yīnggāi bú huì bānjiā.
I don’t think I’ll move.
我應該不會參加那個聚會。
Wǒ yīnggāi bú huì cānjiā nàge jùhuì.
I don’t think I’ll go to that party.
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Anna and David are chatting about weekend plans after class.
What are they mainly talking about: past memories, future plans, or food preferences?