GCSE Mandarin: Work and Future Plans Revision Guide

Key vocabulary

• 工作 (gōngzuò) — job / work
• 医生 (yīshēng) — doctor
• 律师 (lǜshī) — lawyer
• 老师 (lǎoshī) — teacher
• 实习 (shíxí) — work experience / internship
• 将来 (jiānglái) — in the future
• 当 (dāng) — to become / work as

Grammar point: talking about jobs with 当

Use 当 (dāng) directly before a job title to say someone works as or becomes that job: 我想当老师 (wǒ xiǎng dāng lǎoshī) — 'I would like to become a teacher'. Here 想 (xiǎng) expresses a wish, softer than 要 or 打算.

Grammar point: future plans with 要 and 打算

要 (yào) before a verb expresses intention or determination about the future: 我要找一个工作 (wǒ yào zhǎo yí gè gōngzuò) — 'I want to find a job'. 打算 (dǎsuàn, 'to plan to') is used in a similar way but emphasises a more concrete plan: 我打算当医生 (wǒ dǎsuàn dāng yīshēng) — 'I plan to become a doctor'. Both are followed directly by a verb phrase, with no extra linking word needed.

Talking about work experience

Use 实习 to talk about work experience placements, often combined with 在 (zài, 'at') to say where: 我在一家医院实习 (wǒ zài yì jiā yīyuàn shíxí) — 'I did work experience at a hospital'.

Talking about the future

Combine 将来 with 要 or 打算 to describe longer-term aspirations: 将来，我要当律师 (jiānglái, wǒ yào dāng lǜshī) — 'In the future, I want to become a lawyer'.

Common mistakes

• Forgetting 当 before the job title — you cannot say 我要医生; it must be 我要当医生.
• Confusing 想 (a soft wish) with 要 (a stronger intention) — both are useful, but examiners reward accurate use of each.
• Mixing up 律师 (lǜshī, lawyer) with 老师 (lǎoshī, teacher) — the pinyin and characters look very similar.