How to Say “I am motivated” in Chinese
Feelings and opinions · HSK 3
"I am motivated" in Chinese is 我很有动力 (Wǒ hěn yǒu dònglì). 动力 (dònglì) literally means 'power/momentum'; Chinese treats motivation as fuel you possess, so you say 有动力 (have motivation), not 'I am motivated.' Never translate directly as 我是有动力的; that sounds like a robot.
Primary translation
我很有动力
Wǒ hěn yǒu dònglì
Traditional: 我很有動力
Variants by register
Formal
我很有动力去完成这件事
Wǒ hěn yǒu dònglì qù wánchéng zhè jiàn shì
Casual
我超有干劲
Wǒ chāo yǒu gànjìn
When to use it
动力 (dònglì) literally means 'power/momentum'; Chinese treats motivation as fuel you possess, so you say 有动力 (have motivation), not 'I am motivated.' Never translate directly as 我是有动力的; that sounds like a robot. In casual speech, 干劲 (gànjìn) is the go-to word and often pairs with 满满 (mǎnmǎn, 'full to the brim'): 干劲满满. Younger Mainlanders also say 我很上头 in the slang sense of being hyped about something.
Example sentences
我最近很有动力学中文。
Wǒ zuìjìn hěn yǒu dònglì xué Zhōngwén.
I've been really motivated to study Chinese lately.
看完那部电影，我干劲满满。
Kàn wán nà bù diànyǐng, wǒ gànjìn mǎnmǎn.
After that movie, I'm full of drive.
什么事让你这么有动力？
Shénme shì ràng nǐ zhème yǒu dònglì?
What's got you so motivated?