Coincidence with "zhenghao"

正好 (zhènghǎo) can be used as an adjective or adverb to help express a coincidence, and it could be related to size, volume, quantity, degree, time, etc. This is similar to how we say in English, “Oh, this shirt I grabbed was just the right size," or something like that.

Used as "happen to be"

You can also use 正好 to mean "happen to be."

Structure

Subj. + 正好 + [Verb Phrase]

Examples

• 我 正好 要 出去 ，垃圾 我 来 扔 吧 。Wǒ zhènghǎo yào chūqù, lājī wǒ lái rēng ba.I'm just about to leave. I'll take out the trash.
• 你 来 了 ！我 正好 要 找 你 。Nǐ lái le! Wǒ zhènghǎo yào zhǎo nǐ.You are here! I was just looking for you.
• 他 正好 问 了 我 想 问 的 问题 。Tā zhènghǎo wèn le wǒ xiǎng wèn de wèntí.He happened to ask the question that I wanted to ask.
• 我 正好 也 在 这里 实习 。Wǒ zhènghǎo yě zài zhèlǐ shíxí.I happened to do my internship there too.
• 正好 你们 都 是 单身 。Zhènghǎo nǐmen dōu shì dānshēn.You both happen to be single.
• 我 明天 见 他 ，正好 可以 问问 他 这 件 事 。Wǒ míngtiān jiàn tā, zhènghǎo kěyǐ wènwen tā zhè jiàn shì.I'm going to meet with him tomorrow. I can just ask him about this matter.
• 我们 正好 也 要 去 那儿 ，一起 走 吧 。Wǒmen zhènghǎo yě yào qù nàr, yīqǐ zǒu ba.We just happen to be going there. Let's go together.
• 我 敲 门 的 时候 ，他 正好 出门 。Wǒ qiāo mén de shíhou, tā zhènghǎo chūmén.He just happened to be leaving the house while I was knocking at the door.

Used as "just right"

You can also use 正好 to mean "just right" or "just enough."

Examples

• 这 件 衣服 的 大 小 正好 。Zhè jiàn yīfu de dà xiǎo zhènghǎo.The size of these clothes is just right.
• 水温 正好，不 冷 也 不 热 。Shuǐwēn zhènghǎo, bù lěng yě bù rè.The temperature of the water is perfect, not too cold, not too hot.

Sources and further reading

Books

• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 671) [ →buy]
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 90) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy