Difference between revisions of "Expressing "about to" with "jiuyao""
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| − | 就要 (jiùyào) | + | 就要 (jiùyào) is similar to 快要 (kuàiyào), meaning "about to." They are interchangeable in some cases. But there is a major difference that you need to take a good look at. |
== Situations where both can be used == | == Situations where both can be used == | ||
| − | Colloquially, you can just say | + | Colloquially, you can just say 快 instead of 快要. But 就要 can't be used that way. |
==== Structure ==== | ==== Structure ==== | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | *我 <em>快</em> 饿 死 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>kuài </em> è sǐ le.</span><span class="trans">I'm | + | *我 <em>快</em> 饿 死 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>kuài </em> è sǐ le.</span><span class="trans">I'm about to starve to death.</span> |
| − | *他 <em>快要</em> 去 美国 了。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>kuài yào</em> qù Měiguó le.</span><span class="trans">He's | + | *他 <em>快要</em> 去 美国 了。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>kuài yào</em> qù Měiguó le.</span><span class="trans">He's about to go to the USA.</span> |
| − | *<em>快要</em> 下 雨 了！<span class="pinyin"><em>Kuài yào</em> xià yǔ le!</span><span class="trans">It's | + | *<em>快要</em> 下 雨 了！<span class="pinyin"><em>Kuài yào</em> xià yǔ le!</span><span class="trans">It's about to rain!</span> |
| − | *他们 <em>就要</em> 结婚 了。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>jiù yào</em> jiéhūn le.</span><span class="trans">They are | + | *他们 <em>就要</em> 结婚 了。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>jiù yào</em> jiéhūn le.</span><span class="trans">They are about to get married.</span> |
*<em>就要</em> 下课 了，还有 别的 问题 吗？<span class="pinyin"><em>Jiù yào</em> xiàkè le, háiyǒu bié de wèntí ma?</span><span class="trans">The class is almost over. Are there any other questions?</span> | *<em>就要</em> 下课 了，还有 别的 问题 吗？<span class="pinyin"><em>Jiù yào</em> xiàkè le, háiyǒu bié de wèntí ma?</span><span class="trans">The class is almost over. Are there any other questions?</span> | ||
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== Situations where only "就要" can be used == | == Situations where only "就要" can be used == | ||
| − | 快要 (kuài yào) is generally " | + | 快要 (kuài yào) is generally "about to" [happen], but 就要 (jiù yào) could be used to mark a more specific time. 要 (yào) here can be omitted. For this one, you wouldn't normally use "about to" for this English translation, but the feeling is nevertheless that the impending event is coming up fast. |
==== Structure ==== | ==== Structure ==== | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | *还有 十 天 宝宝 <em>就</em> 一 岁 了。<span class="pinyin">Háiyǒu shí tiān bǎobǎo <em>jiù</em> yī suì le.</span><span class="trans"> | + | *还有 十 天 宝宝 <em>就</em> 一 岁 了。<span class="pinyin">Háiyǒu shí tiān bǎobǎo <em>jiù</em> yī suì le.</span><span class="trans">In ten more days, the baby will be one year old.</span> |
| − | *还有 十 分钟 <em>就</em> 下班 了。<span class="pinyin">Háiyǒu shí fēnzhōng <em>jiù</em> xiàbān le.</span><span class="trans"> | + | *还有 十 分钟 <em>就</em> 下班 了。<span class="pinyin">Háiyǒu shí fēnzhōng <em>jiù</em> xiàbān le.</span><span class="trans">In 10 more minutes I get off work.</span> |
| − | *还有 五 天 <em>就要</em> 放假 了。<span class="pinyin">Háiyǒu wǔ tiān <em>jiù yào</em> fàngjià le.</span><span class="trans"> | + | *还有 五 天 <em>就要</em> 放假 了。<span class="pinyin">Háiyǒu wǔ tiān <em>jiù yào</em> fàngjià le.</span><span class="trans">In 10 more days, I go on vacation.</span> |
| − | *还有 一 个 月 <em>就要</em> 过年 了。<span class="pinyin">Háiyǒu yī gè yuè <em>jiù yào</em> guònián le.</span><span class="trans"> | + | *还有 一 个 月 <em>就要</em> 过年 了。<span class="pinyin">Háiyǒu yī gè yuè <em>jiù yào</em> guònián le.</span><span class="trans">In another month it will be Chinese New Year.</span> |
| − | *还有 两 个 星期 <em>就要</em> 考试 了。<span class="pinyin">Háiyǒu liǎng gè xīngqí <em>jiù yào</em> kǎoshì le.</span><span class="trans"> | + | *还有 两 个 星期 <em>就要</em> 考试 了。<span class="pinyin">Háiyǒu liǎng gè xīngqí <em>jiù yào</em> kǎoshì le.</span><span class="trans">We're just two weeks away from the test date.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 08:32, 5 June 2017
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| This article is a stub. Editors can help the Chinese Grammar Wiki by expanding it. |
就要 (jiùyào) is similar to 快要 (kuàiyào), meaning "about to." They are interchangeable in some cases. But there is a major difference that you need to take a good look at.
Contents
Situations where both can be used
Colloquially, you can just say 快 instead of 快要. But 就要 can't be used that way.
Structure
快（要） / 就（要） + Verb Phrase + 了
Examples
- 我 快 饿 死 了。I'm about to starve to death.
- 他 快要 去 美国 了。He's about to go to the USA.
- 快要 下 雨 了！It's about to rain!
- 他们 就要 结婚 了。They are about to get married.
- 就要 下课 了，还有 别的 问题 吗？The class is almost over. Are there any other questions?
Situations where only "就要" can be used
快要 (kuài yào) is generally "about to" [happen], but 就要 (jiù yào) could be used to mark a more specific time. 要 (yào) here can be omitted. For this one, you wouldn't normally use "about to" for this English translation, but the feeling is nevertheless that the impending event is coming up fast.
Structure
还有 + Time Period + 就（要） + Verb Phrase + 了
Examples
- 还有 十 天 宝宝 就 一 岁 了。In ten more days, the baby will be one year old.
- 还有 十 分钟 就 下班 了。In 10 more minutes I get off work.
- 还有 五 天 就要 放假 了。In 10 more days, I go on vacation.
- 还有 一 个 月 就要 过年 了。In another month it will be Chinese New Year.
- 还有 两 个 星期 就要 考试 了。We're just two weeks away from the test date.
See also
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)
