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), 快要(kuàiyào) or a 要 (yào).

快 (kuài)⋯⋯了 (le) with Verbs

When using "快 ⋯⋯了" (kuài ... le) with verbs, it takes on a meaning similar to the English "just about to." Normally you can add 要 (yào) before the verb.

Structure

快 (要) + Verb / Verb Phrase + 了

Examples

• 我们 快 到 了。Wǒmen kuài dào le. We're almost there.
• 快 下雨 了，我们 走 吧。Kuài xiàyǔ le, wǒmen zǒu ba. It's going to rain soon. Let's go.
• 快 要 过年 了，你 什么 时候 回家？Kuài yào guò nián le, nǐ shénme shíhou huíjiā? It's almost Chinese New Year. When are you going back to your hometown?
• 我 女朋友 快 要 过 生日 了。 Wǒ nǚpéngyou kuài yào guò shēngrì le. My girlfriend is about to have her birthday.
• 快 下 车 了 ，你 再 等 一会儿。Kuài xià chē le, nǐ zài děng yīhuìr. We're almost there. Get ready to get out of the car soon.

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

快 (kuài) ⋯⋯了 (le) with Adjectives

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

Structure

快 + Adj. + 了

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

Examples

• 天 快 黑 了。Tiān kuài hēi le. It’s almost getting dark.
• 我 快 好 了。Wǒ kuài hǎo le. I'm almost ready.
• 我们 快 迟到 了。Wǒmen kuài chídào le. We're about to be late.
• 这些 脏 衣服 快 臭 了。Zhè xiē zāng yīfu kuài chòu le. The clothes are about to smell bad.
• 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.

要 (yào) ......了 (le) with Verbs

Structure

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

Subj. + 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

• 我 要 生气 了！Wǒ yào shēngqì le! I'm going to get angry!
• 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。Jiǔ diǎn le, chāoshì yào guān mén le. It's 9 o'clock. The supermarket is about to close.
• 我 最好 的 朋友 要 结婚 了！Wǒ zuìhǎo de péngyou yào jiéhūn le! My best friend is about to get married!
• 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?

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)