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). This is a special form of using 了 to indicate a change of situation.

快⋯⋯了 (kuài... 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+ Verb + 了

快要 + Verb + 了

Examples

• 我们 快 到 了。Wǒmen kuài dào le.We're almost there.
• 快 下雨 了 。Kuài xiàyǔ le.It's going to rain soon.
• 快 要 过年 了，你 什么 时候 回家？Kuài yào guònián 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 xiàchē le, nǐ zài děng yīhuìr.We're about to get off. Just wait a little while.

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

快⋯⋯了 (kuài... le) with Adjectives

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

Structure

快 + Adj. + 了

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.
• 饭 快 凉 了。Fàn kuài liáng le.The food is about to be cold.
• 这些 脏 衣服 快 臭 了。Zhèxiē zāng yīfu kuài chòu le.These dirty 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 can't drink another, I am almost drunk.

要⋯⋯了 (yào... le) with Verbs

Structure

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

Subj. + 要 + Verb / Adj. + 了

Note that occasionally you'll see adjectives (instead of verbs) in this pattern as well.

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 guānmén 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

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

Sources and further reading

Books

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

Websites

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