Expressing "about to happen" with "le"

Remember that 了 (le) is not only for the past! When something is about to happen, you can also indicate this using 了 (le). Normally it is paired with a 快 (kuài) and/or a 要 (yào).

快（要）……了 with Verbs

When using "快（要）……了" (kuài (yào)... le) with verbs, it takes on a meaning similar to the English "just about to."

Structure

快(要) + Verb/Verb Phrase + 了

Examples

• 你 快 下班 了 吗 ？ Nǐ kuài xiàbān le ma? Are you going to get off work soon?
• 这 些 工作 快要 做 完 了 。 Zhè xiē gōngzuò kuàiyào zuò wán le. I am almost finished with work.
• 他 快要 到 家 了 。 Tā kuàiyào dào jiā le ma? He is going to come home soon/He is almost home.
• 我 觉得 快 下雨 了 ， 我们 走 吧 。 Wǒ juéde kuài xiàyǔ le, wǒmen zǒu bā. I think it's going to rain soon. Let's go.
• 快要 过年 了 ， 你 什么 时候 回家 ？ Kuàiyào guò nián le, nǐ shénme shíhou huíjiā? It's almost Chinese New Year, when are you going back to your hometown?
• 小李 快 哭 了 ， 你 别 开 玩笑 了 。 Xiǎolǐ kuài kū le, nǐ bié kāi wánxiào le. XiaoLi is almost crying, stop joking around.
• 我们 快 吃完 了 。 Wǒmen kuài chīwán le. We are about to finish eating.
• 这 个 老人 快要 死 了 。 Zhè gè lǎorén kuàiyào sǐ le. This old person is going to die soon.
• 你们 快要 结婚 了 ？ Nǐmen kuàiyào jiéhūn le? Are you soon getting married?
• 快 下 车 了 ， 你 再 等 一会儿 。 Kuài xià chē le, nǐ zài děng yīhuìr. You are soon getting out of the car, wait a moment.

Notice that for some translations, it's more natural to use the English word "almost" instead of "soon."

快……了 with Adjectives

In this structure, 快……了 (kuài…… le) is closer to the meaning of "almost" in English.

Structure

快 + Adjective + 了

Note that for adjectives, you don't normally add a 要 (yào) like you do for verbs (see above).

Examples

• 我 快 好 了 。 Wǒ kuài hǎo le. I'm almost ready.
• 肉 快 熟 了 。 Ròu kuài shóu le. The meat is almost done [cooking].
• 他 的 脏 袜子 快 臭 了 。 Tā de zāng wàzi kuài chòu le. His dirty socks are about to smell bad.
• 天 快 黑 了 。 Tiān kuài hēi le. It’s almost getting dark.
• 你 的 咖啡 快 凉 了 。 Nǐ de kāfēi kuài liáng le. Your coffee is almost cool.
• 水果 快 坏 了 。 Shuǐguǒ kuài huài le. The fruit is almost ruined.
• 不 能 再 喝 了 ， 我 快 醉 了 。 Bù néng zài hē le, wǒ kuài zuì le. I don't want to drink more, I am almost drunk.
• 我 快 迟到 了 。 Wǒ kuài chídào le. I was almost late.
• 衣服 快 干 了 。 Yīfu kuài gān le. The clothes are almost clean.
• 杯子 快 满 了 。 Bēizi kuài mǎn le. The cup is almost filled up.

要......了 with Verbs

Structure

You can also just use 要 (yào) before the verb, without 快 (kuài) .

Subject + 要 + Verb/Verb Phrase + 了

Note that for adjectives, you don't normally use 要 (yào) like this, as you do for verbs (see above).

Examples

• 要 见 妈妈 了 ， 高兴 吗 ？ Yào jiàn māma le, gāoxìng ma? You're about to see your mom. Are you happy?
• 我 觉得 要 下雨 了 。 Wǒ juéde yào xiàyǔ le. I think it's about to rain.
• 我 要 生气 了 ！ Wǒ yào shēngqì le! I'm going to get angry!
• 我 要 迟到 了 ！ Wǒ yào chídào le! I'm going to be late!
• 他们 的 孩子 要 出生 了 。 Tāmen de háizi yào chūshēng le. Their child is about to be born.
• 9 点 了 ， 超市 要 关门 了 。 9diǎn le, chāoshì yào guān mén le. It's 9 o'clock. The supermarket is about to close.
• 圣诞节 要 到 了 ， 你 有 什么 打算 ？ Shèngdànjié yào dào le, nǐ yǒu shénme dǎsuàn? It's almost Christmas. What plans do you have?
• 我 要 结婚 了 ！ 哈哈 ！ Wǒ yào jiéhūn le! Hāhā! I'm about to get married! Ha ha!
• 我 觉得 我 要 感冒 了 。 Wǒ juéde wǒ yào gǎnmào le. I think I'm about to get a cold. / I think I'm coming down with a cold.

See also

• "Nearly" with "jihu"
• Approximations with "chabuduo"
• Expressing future with "jiang"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇) (p.183)→buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 267-8) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 196-7) →buy
• 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册） (p. 271)→buy

Websites

• ChinesePod: Qing Wen - 了 (le): Something's About to Happen (free podcast content)