How to Say “I am curious” in Chinese
Feelings and opinions · HSK 3
"I am curious" in Chinese is 我很好奇 (Wǒ hěn hàoqí). Watch the tone on 好奇; it's hào (4th tone, 'fond of'), not hǎo (3rd tone, 'good'). 好 as hào means 'to be fond of,' so 好奇 literally means 'fond of the strange.
Primary translation
我很好奇
Wǒ hěn hàoqí
Variants by register
Formal
我对这件事感到很好奇
Wǒ duì zhè jiàn shì gǎndào hěn hàoqí
Casual
我好奇死了
Wǒ hàoqí sǐle
When to use it
Watch the tone on 好奇; it's hào (4th tone, 'fond of'), not hǎo (3rd tone, 'good'). 好 as hào means 'to be fond of,' so 好奇 literally means 'fond of the strange.' To say curious *about* something, use 对…好奇: 我对中国文化很好奇. The casual 好奇死了 ('curious to death') is very common with friends; Mandarin loves 死了 as an intensifier, similar to English 'dying to know.' In Taiwan you'll also hear 我很想知道 for a softer feel.
Example sentences
我很好奇你是怎么学中文的。
Wǒ hěn hàoqí nǐ shì zěnme xué Zhōngwén de.
I'm really curious how you learned Chinese.
别卖关子，我好奇死了！
Bié mài guānzi, wǒ hàoqí sǐle!
Don't keep me in suspense; I'm dying to know!
小孩子对什么都很好奇。
Xiǎoháizi duì shénme dōu hěn hàoqí.
Kids are curious about everything.