<p>In general they're about the same. They are actually used to define each other in some dictionaries. Colloquial usages might differ, but in most cases you can safely use 肯 in place of 願意, especially when spoken.</p>

<p>There is a little difference though. While both words mean <em>agreement/acceptance</em>, with 肯 its acceptance regardless of whether you are happy/willing. In contrast 願意 indicates that its what you want, i.e. there is no unwillingness. So for instance, when exchanging marriage vows, we say 我願意 and not 我肯. The latter would carry an undertone of reluctance.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-09T22:15:25.600Z
2014-06-09T22:15:25.600Z
Semaphore
<blockquote>
  <p>願意 and 肯 are <strong>NOT (exactly) the same.</strong></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Basically,</p>

<p>(I). 願意 is on the more positively-willing to do side. 意 has 心 in it, so 願意 means that the person is willing to do it from one's heart. It generically carries <strong>positive feelings</strong>.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Ex: 網球選手 R Federer <strong>願意</strong> 放棄參加網球賽,因為他的雙胞胎(雙生子)剛出生. </p>
</blockquote>

<p>->Tennis player R Federer wishes to give up some tennis games, because his twin sons were born recently.</p>

<p>(II). 肯 may (or may not) imply a decision <strong>with reluctance, or under pressure, negotiation, push</strong>, etc. 肯 can carry positive feelings in some case, though it can also be (<strong>a polite manner way</strong> to speak for one's) <strong>neutral or negative feelings</strong>. It can also be the cases that one does something with <strong>bitterness</strong> and <strong>pain</strong> but aims for a delightful outcome or fruits in the end. For example,</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Ex: 網球選手 R Nadal <strong>肯</strong> 努力拼網球賽,即使他的身體不能負荷. </p>
</blockquote>

<p>-> Tennis player R Nadal would like to fight for tennis games, even though his body cannot sustain them.</p>

<p>My answer is very similar to the second part of Semaphore's answer, but I just stress that they are NOT really the same.</p>

<p>p.s. You may also wish to compare them, 願意 and 肯, with are 寧願, 寧肯. This will be another question though.</p>

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2014-06-10T05:07:23.120Z
Interestingly, 肯 has 止+月=肯. I wonder 止 月 means something? 止 means that forbid or stop, 月 means moon.
wonderich
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-10T05:18:57.403Z
肯 is actually 骨 (bone) on top of 肉 (meat).
Semaphore
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-10T05:41:09.383Z
止 nowadays means "to stop", but historically it means "foot".
Derek 朕會功夫
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-10T16:34:34.550Z
@  Semaphore and  Derek, nice comments!
wonderich
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-06T17:28:10.880Z
According to shuowenjiezi, 肯, originally 肎, is composed of 肉 and 冎, which means flesh sticking to a bone.  Apparently calligraphic simplifications caused 肯 to take the form of foot 止 instead.

If shuowenjiezi is reliable, then the meaning of "acceptance" would most likely have arisen because the character was borrowed for its sound, and has just stuck.  This is similar to the case for 北 which originally meant back.  The meaning is survived in the variant character 背 (北 + 肉) while 北 means north.
Henry Chan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-10T05:06:32.547Z
2014-06-10T19:24:34.713Z
2014-06-10T19:24:34.713Z
wonderich
<p>愿意 and 肯 can be used interchangeably.</p>

<p>愿意 can be explain as a persons‘ willingness，where as a more precise wording for 肯 is asking or expressing consent. </p>

<p>In the Chinese language, words can be interpreted in reversed order to further understand the meaning of words. 愿意 can also be read as 意愿 which means the will of and initial intent of the person. </p>

<p>肯 can also be used as positive conformation as in 肯定.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-10T01:16:06.330Z
2014-06-10T01:23:34.960Z
2014-06-10T01:23:34.960Z
enosan
<p>愿意 and 肯 are similar, but not the same.</p>

<p><strong>Difference:</strong></p>

<p>1.</p>

<p>"你肯不肯去中国工作" implies that the event "去中国工作" may be unpleasant.</p>

<p>"你愿不愿意去中国工作" implies that the event "去中国工作" is pleasant (or at least not unpleasant). </p>

<p>肯不肯 is usually used to describe unpleasant jobs/ missions/ tasks etc.
愿不愿意 is usually used to describe jobs/ missions/ tasks which are not unpleasant.</p>

<p>2.</p>

<p>肯不肯 is a bit strong and harsh. Try to avoid using 肯不肯.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-10T07:08:47.447Z
2014-06-10T07:08:47.447Z
Kiddy
<p>they have the same meaning, although 愿意 is much more frequently used, another way to ask the question is with 想： 你想不想去中国工作 (do you want to work in China)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-16T21:33:59.267Z
2014-06-16T21:33:59.267Z
user5786
<p>I would say 愿意 and 肯 are mostly interchangeable.</p>

<p>The difference is, if there is little, 愿意 is more active whereas 肯 is a little passive.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-13T05:20:37.703Z
2014-06-13T05:20:37.703Z
ChineseHulu.com
<p>I believe 愿意 is more literary than 肯. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-10T05:46:45.587Z
2014-06-10T05:46:45.587Z
Satoshi Natsu
<p>I rarely say "肯不肯" in spoken language. It is more common in written language.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-19T09:44:31.693Z
2014-06-19T09:44:31.693Z
lgylym
<p>It's rare to see such an interesting question.</p>

<p>愿意, for the simplified Chinese, there is "心" (heart) contained in each character. If you dig the dictionary, 愿意 has more willingness. Which would suggest that in some cases the person already had a positive thought of the issue.</p>

<p>On the other hand, 肯 is more reserved, there would be some trade off (or sacrifice) to make the decision.</p>

<p>In conclusion, 愿意 stands for the favourable side, 肯 stands for the less favourable side.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-10T17:02:21.513Z
2014-06-10T17:02:21.513Z
Madwyn
<p>One of <a href="http://www.zdic.net/z/21/js/80AF.htm" rel="nofollow">the definitions of 肯</a> is actually 願意. Basically they mean the exact same thing, but in my opinion, 願意 is more formal than 肯.</p>

<p>Some might find that 願意 is more positive than 願意, but both can actually be used for a positive meaning.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-09T21:53:44.030Z
2014-06-10T05:48:20.527Z
2014-06-10T05:48:20.527Z
Derek 朕會功夫
<p>To me, there is no difference.
But I usually use the first one because I feel the second one is difficult to pronounce.
And if there is a wedding, it will be 你愿不愿意嫁给他为妻,而不是,你肯不肯嫁给他为妻.
I guess 肯 is more casual.
Don't overthink it.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-16T18:07:06.243Z
2014-06-16T18:12:14.627Z
2014-06-16T18:12:14.627Z
Ike
<p>Is there a difference between 愿意 and 肯 in the following sentence?</p>

<p>"Are you willing to go to China for work?" being translated to one of the two?</p>

<ul>
<li><p>你愿不愿意去中国工作？</p></li>
<li><p>你肯不肯去中国工作？</p></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-10T19:11:29.143Z
The other thing you may wish to compare them with are 寧願, 寧肯.
wonderich
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-10T19:19:41.667Z
and see my updated answers with examples about tennis players : Federer and Nadal.
wonderich
<word-choice><difference>
Is there a difference between 愿意 and 肯?
# Is there a difference between 愿意 and 肯?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-06-09)

Is there a difference between 愿意 and 肯 in the following sentence?

"Are you willing to go to China for work?" being translated to one of the two?

* 你愿不愿意去中国工作？
* 你肯不肯去中国工作？

**Tags:** word-choice, difference

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The other thing you may wish to compare them with are 寧願, 寧肯.  
> **username_1**: and see my updated answers with examples about tennis players : Federer and Nadal.  

---

## 11 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-06-09. Score: 19

In general they're about the same. They are actually used to define each other in some dictionaries. Colloquial usages might differ, but in most cases you can safely use 肯 in place of 願意, especially when spoken.

There is a little difference though. While both words mean *agreement/acceptance*, with 肯 its acceptance regardless of whether you are happy/willing. In contrast 願意 indicates that its what you want, i.e. there is no unwillingness. So for instance, when exchanging marriage vows, we say 我願意 and not 我肯. The latter would carry an undertone of reluctance.


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-06-10. Score: 14

> 願意 and 肯 are **NOT (exactly) the same.**

Basically,

(I). 願意 is on the more positively-willing to do side. 意 has 心 in it, so 願意 means that the person is willing to do it from one's heart. It generically carries **positive feelings**.

> Ex: 網球選手 R Federer **願意** 放棄參加網球賽,因為他的雙胞胎(雙生子)剛出生.

->Tennis player R Federer wishes to give up some tennis games, because his twin sons were born recently.

(II). 肯 may (or may not) imply a decision **with reluctance, or under pressure, negotiation, push**, etc. 肯 can carry positive feelings in some case, though it can also be (**a polite manner way** to speak for one's) **neutral or negative feelings**. It can also be the cases that one does something with **bitterness** and **pain** but aims for a delightful outcome or fruits in the end. For example,

> Ex: 網球選手 R Nadal **肯** 努力拼網球賽,即使他的身體不能負荷.

-> Tennis player R Nadal would like to fight for tennis games, even though his body cannot sustain them.

My answer is very similar to the second part of username_2's answer, but I just stress that they are NOT really the same.

p.s. You may also wish to compare them, 願意 and 肯, with are 寧願, 寧肯. This will be another question though.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Interestingly, 肯 has 止+月=肯. I wonder 止 月 means something? 止 means that forbid or stop, 月 means moon.  
> **username_2**: 肯 is actually 骨 (bone) on top of 肉 (meat).  
> **username_3**: 止 nowadays means "to stop", but historically it means "foot".  
> **username_1**: @  username_2 and  username_3, nice comments!  
> **username_4**: According to shuowenjiezi, 肯, originally 肎, is composed of 肉 and 冎, which means flesh sticking to a bone.  Apparently calligraphic simplifications caused 肯 to take the form of foot 止 instead.  If shuowenjiezi is reliable, then the meaning of "acceptance" would most likely have arisen because the character was borrowed for its sound, and has just stuck.  This is similar to the case for 北 which originally meant back.  The meaning is survived in the variant character 背 (北 + 肉) while 北 means north.  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2014-06-10. Score: 6

愿意 and 肯 can be used interchangeably.

愿意 can be explain as a persons‘ willingness，where as a more precise wording for 肯 is asking or expressing consent.

In the Chinese language, words can be interpreted in reversed order to further understand the meaning of words. 愿意 can also be read as 意愿 which means the will of and initial intent of the person.

肯 can also be used as positive conformation as in 肯定.


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2014-06-10. Score: 5

愿意 and 肯 are similar, but not the same.

**Difference:**

1.

"你肯不肯去中国工作" implies that the event "去中国工作" may be unpleasant.

"你愿不愿意去中国工作" implies that the event "去中国工作" is pleasant (or at least not unpleasant).

肯不肯 is usually used to describe unpleasant jobs/ missions/ tasks etc.
愿不愿意 is usually used to describe jobs/ missions/ tasks which are not unpleasant.

2.

肯不肯 is a bit strong and harsh. Try to avoid using 肯不肯.


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### Answer by username_7 on 2014-06-16. Score: 3

they have the same meaning, although 愿意 is much more frequently used, another way to ask the question is with 想： 你想不想去中国工作 (do you want to work in China)


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### Answer by username_8 on 2014-06-13. Score: 3

I would say 愿意 and 肯 are mostly interchangeable.

The difference is, if there is little, 愿意 is more active whereas 肯 is a little passive.


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### Answer by username_9 on 2014-06-10. Score: 3

I believe 愿意 is more literary than 肯.


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### Answer by username_10 on 2014-06-19. Score: 2

I rarely say "肯不肯" in spoken language. It is more common in written language.


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### Answer by username_11 on 2014-06-10. Score: 2

It's rare to see such an interesting question.

愿意, for the simplified Chinese, there is "心" (heart) contained in each character. If you dig the dictionary, 愿意 has more willingness. Which would suggest that in some cases the person already had a positive thought of the issue.

On the other hand, 肯 is more reserved, there would be some trade off (or sacrifice) to make the decision.

In conclusion, 愿意 stands for the favourable side, 肯 stands for the less favourable side.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2014-06-09. Score: 2

One of [the definitions of 肯](http://www.zdic.net/z/21/js/80AF.htm) is actually 願意. Basically they mean the exact same thing, but in my opinion, 願意 is more formal than 肯.

Some might find that 願意 is more positive than 願意, but both can actually be used for a positive meaning.


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### Answer by username_12 on 2014-06-16. Score: 2

To me, there is no difference.
But I usually use the first one because I feel the second one is difficult to pronounce.
And if there is a wedding, it will be 你愿不愿意嫁给他为妻,而不是,你肯不肯嫁给他为妻.
I guess 肯 is more casual.
Don't overthink it.


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