Difference between revisions of "Expressing "about to" with "jiuyao""
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Colloquially, you can just say 快 instead of 快要. But 就要 can't be used that way. | Colloquially, you can just say 快 instead of 快要. But 就要 can't be used that way. | ||
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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. | 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. | ||
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Revision as of 06:59, 28 July 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）+ Verb Phrase + 了
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 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)
