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HSK 3

打算

to plan; to intend

verbneutral1 episode
打
dǎ3rd tone
算
suàn4th tone

HSK level

1
2
3
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Pinyin
dǎsuàn
Part of speech
verb
Level
HSK 3
Strokes
19
Register
neutral
In episodes
1

Stroke order for 打算

打算 is written with 19 strokes (打: 5, 算: 14). The animation replays automatically.

What does 打算 mean?

打算 (dǎsuàn) means 'to plan to' or 'to intend to' — to have an idea of what you want to do, with some thought behind it but not necessarily a fixed schedule.

It is most often used as a verb followed directly by another verb phrase: 我打算去中国 ('I plan to go to China'). It can also function as a noun: 你有什么打算? ('What are your plans?').

Two notes for English speakers: first, 打算 is softer than 'will' (会 / 要) — it leaves room for the plan to change. If you say 我打算明天去, the plan is real but not locked in; 我明天去 is a firmer statement. Second, 打算 implies forethought, unlike 想 (xiǎng, 'want to / would like to'), which can be a casual wish. 我想去 = I'd like to go; 我打算去 = I'm planning to go.

Character by character

打dǎto hit; verb prefix (here)
+
算suànto calculate; to count; to consider
=
打算

Memory hook: 算 means 'calculate / consider.' 打算 = to do the mental calculation about what to do next = to plan.

Hear 打算 in real episodes

打算 appears in 1 Fluentide podcast episode at natural native speed — each with the full Chinese script, pinyin, and line-by-line English translation.

He Took Steroids, Drank 24 a Day and Never Trained Once. At His First Bodybuilding Contest, He Came Last.打算 spoken at natural speednormal
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Example sentences

你周末打算做什么？

Nǐ zhōumò dǎsuàn zuò shénme?

What do you plan to do this weekend?

spoken

我打算明年去中国学中文。

Wǒ dǎsuàn míngnián qù Zhōngguó xué Zhōngwén.

I plan to go to China next year to study Chinese.

neutral

他原来打算开车，后来坐地铁去了。

Tā yuánlái dǎsuàn kāichē, hòulái zuò dìtiě qù le.

He originally planned to drive, but then took the subway.

neutral

你有什么打算吗？

Nǐ yǒu shénme dǎsuàn ma?

Do you have any plans?

spoken

Common phrases with 打算

打算去dǎsuàn qùto plan to go
有什么打算yǒu shénme dǎsuàn(do you) have any plans?
打算做什么dǎsuàn zuò shénmeto plan to do what
原来打算yuánlái dǎsuànhad originally planned
改变打算gǎibiàn dǎsuànto change one's plan

Synonyms

计划jìhuà

计划 is a more formal, structured plan — a project plan, a study plan, a national plan. 打算 is everyday, personal intention. 'Tomorrow I plan to study' = 我打算; 'the company's five-year plan' = 计划.

准备zhǔnbèi

准备 emphasizes preparation — actively getting ready. 打算 emphasizes intention — having the idea. 我打算考试 (I plan to take the test) vs 我在准备考试 (I'm preparing for the test).

想xiǎng

想 expresses 'want to / would like to' — softer, more like a wish. 打算 implies you've actually decided to do it. 我想去日本 (I'd like to go to Japan) vs 我打算去日本 (I'm planning to go to Japan).

Don't confuse 打算 with

算suàn

算 alone means 'to calculate / count / consider as.' 打算 specifically means 'to plan / intend.' Different functions even though they share the character.

希望xīwàng

希望 means 'to hope' — expressing a wish that may not be in your control. 打算 means you've decided what YOU will do. 我希望下雨 (I hope it rains) — you can't control rain; 我打算明天去 — you control your action.

FAQ

Related words from the same episodes

初赛preliminary round肌肉muscle坚持to persist减少to reduce健美bodybuilding结果result解释to explain酒精alcohol决赛final round类固醇steroids理由reason名次placing, rank

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