Learn Hardcore Chinese: jīnnián zhōumò wǒ xiǎng gēn jiārén zài jiā, bù dǎsuàn chūqù le. - This year on weekends I want to be at home with my family; I don't plan to go out.

When a time word modifies a noun like 周末, adding 的 is the safe, natural choice: 今年的周末. Dropping 的 is common in set collocations (e.g., 今年暑假), but 今年周末 without 的 can sound abrupt or ambiguous.

Is the time-word order correct? Why 今年 before 周末?

Yes. Chinese stacks time from big to small: year → month/season → week/day → time of day. So 今年 + 周末 follows that “big-to-small” order. Avoid reversing it (e.g., “周末今年”).

Why use both 想 and 打算? Are they redundant?

They express different things:

想 = want/would like (desire)
打算 = plan/intend (decision/arrangement) Here they appear in separate clauses: desire to be at home vs a plan not to go out. Don’t combine them as 我想打算… (unnatural).

Why 不打算 and not 没打算?

不打算 = you intend not to (a deliberate decision).
没打算 = you haven’t made plans (absence of a plan; you still might do it). Here, the speaker chooses not to go out, so 不打算 is right.

What does the sentence-final 了 do?

Sentence-final 了 marks a change of situation/new status. 不打算出去了 implies “not going out anymore / I’ve decided not to go out (now).” Without 了 (i.e., 不打算出去), it’s a neutral statement of intention, with no “anymore/now” flavor.

Can I use 和 instead of 跟?

Yes. 跟 and 和 both work for “with” here. 跟 is a bit more colloquial; 和 is neutral/formal. So 我想和家人在家… is fine. Don’t use both together.

Do I need 一起 to show “together with family”?

Not required—跟家人 already implies “with family.” Add 一起 to underline togetherness:

我想在家跟家人一起待着。
我想和家人在一起，在家休息。

在家 vs 在家里: any difference?

Both mean “at home.” 在家 is shorter and very common; 在家里 is slightly more explicit. Either is fine here.

Should I say 待在家/呆在家 instead of just 在家?

Use 待在家/呆在家 if you want to stress “stay at home” rather than simply “be at home.”

待 is a bit more standard; 呆 is also common colloquially.
Example: 我想跟家人待在家。

出去 vs 出门 vs 外出 — what’s the nuance?

出去: go out (to outside space relative to the speaker).
出门: leave the house/go out the door (everyday “head out”).
外出: go out (formal/register, signs/notices). All would fit contextually; 不打算出去 is perfect. 不打算出门 is also fine.

Is 跟家人在家 the only natural order? What about 在家跟家人?

Both are natural:

我想跟家人在家…
我想在家跟家人… Chinese lets you put the accompaniment (跟…) or the place (在…) first; the nuance difference is minimal. Pick what flows better.

Can I drop 我?

Only if the subject is clear from context (e.g., in a chat thread or diary). As a standalone sentence, keep 我.

Could I say 不想/不会/没打算 instead of 不打算?

不想出去了 = I don’t feel like going out (softer, about desire).
不会出去 = I will not go out (prediction/decision; can sound stronger; in some contexts it’s a promise).
没打算出去 = I haven’t planned to go out (lack of plan; not necessarily refusing). Choose based on whether you want desire, plan, or prediction.

Does 家人 mean immediate family or extended relatives?

家人 usually means “family members,” often immediate family. 家里人 leans even more to “people at home/immediate family.” For extended relatives, use 亲戚.

If I mean “every weekend this year,” how do I say it clearly?

Add 都 or 每个:

今年的周末我都想跟家人在家。
今年每个周末我都想跟家人在家。

Any pronunciation/tone tips here?

了 is neutral tone (le).
不 changes to bú before a 4th tone; here it’s bù dǎsuàn (next syllable is 3rd), but note: 不去 is pronounced bú qù.
出去: chū-qù (qù is 4th tone).
打算: dǎ-suàn (3rd + 4th).

Why a comma between the two parts instead of a conjunction?

Chinese often links related clauses with a comma. English might use “and/so,” but in Chinese the comma is enough: desire/preference first, then the plan/decision.