我要走了 I Have to Go in Chinese

晚上wǎnshang，我wǒ在zài小美Xiǎoměi家jiā吃饭chīfàn，吃饭chīfàn以后yǐhòu，我们wǒmen一起yìqǐ看kàn电视diànshì。

In the evening, I ate dinner at Xiaomei's place, and after dinner, we watched TV together.

看kàn了le一会儿yíhuìr，我wǒ看kàn了le看kàn时间shíjiān，说shuō：“时间shíjiān不bù早zǎo了le，我wǒ要yào走zǒu了le。”

After watching for a while, I checked the time and said: "It's getting late, I have to go."

小美Xiǎoměi说shuō：“再zài坐zuò一会儿yíhuìr吧ba，还hái早zǎo呢ne。”

Xiaomei said: "Sit a little longer, it's still early."

我wǒ说shuō：“不bù了le，我wǒ明天míngtiān还hái要yào上班shàngbān，我wǒ先xiān走zǒu了le。”

I said: "No, I still have to work tomorrow, I'm heading out first."

我wǒ站zhàn了le起来qǐlai，说shuō：“我wǒ先xiān走zǒu了le，再见zàijiàn！”

I stood up and said: "I'm heading out first, bye!"

我wǒ走zǒu了le，回头huítóu看kàn，她tā还hái站zhàn在zài门口ménkǒu。

I started walking, then looked back — she was still standing at the door.

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Key words 生词

起来qǐlai(directional complement: up)

回头huítóuto turn one's head; to look back

先xiānfirst

还háistill

上班shàngbānto go to work

时间shíjiāntime

我要走了 / 我先走了（I have to go / I'm heading out first）

Both phrases announce that you're about to leave; 先 adds that you're leaving before others.

时间不早了，我要走了。— It's getting late, I have to go.

V + 起来（to stand up）

起来 after a verb like 站 shows upward movement, such as standing up.

我站了起来，说：“我先走了，再见！”— I stood up and said: "I'm heading out first, bye!"

回头（to look back）

回头 describes turning your head to look behind you, often as you're walking away.

我走了，回头看，她还站在门口。— I started walking, then looked back — she was still standing at the door.

1. What does 我要走了 mean?

2. Why doesn't the writer stay longer at Xiaomei's house?

3. What does the writer do right before leaving?

After this reading

I'm Fei, and I teach Mandarin one-on-one on Preply. Bring this text to a trial lesson — we'll fix your tones and turn it into a real conversation.