To be at a meeting

[Mike]

Are these two sentences correct, and broadly speaking do they mean the same thing?

(1) Ming2 tian1 wo3 kai1 hui4.

(2) Ming2 tian1 wo3 can1 jia1 hui4 yi4.

btw - I want to say that tomorrow I will go to a meeting.

Thanks.

[Quest]

(1) Ming2 tian1 wo3 kai1 hui4.

(2) Ming2 tian1 wo3 can1 jia1 hui4 yi4.

Yes they mean the same, but they sound a bit awkward. Try the following:

ming2 tian1 wo3 yao4 kai1 hui4.

ming2 tian1 wo3 yao4 can1 jia1 yi2ge4 hui4 yi4

wo3 ming2 tian1 you3 ge4 hui4 yao4 kai1

wo3 ming2 tian1 you3 ge4 hui4 yi4 yao4 can1 jia1

[Mike]

Thanks Quest, I understand some of my mistakes:-) but I don't understand the use of ge4 - At the risk of being embarrassed by this suggestion, and guessing wildly, is it something to do with 'measure' and attending one meeting?

[nipponman]

If you mean by "measure", measure word, then Yes! it does. ge4 is just a way to count hui4.

So you3 ge4 hui4 yao4 kai1 means that "there is a meeting I want to hold/attend."

[Mike]

Wow - thanks nipponman - in a desert of difficulty a grain of success!