Expressing "about to happen" with "le"

“快...了” expresses something that has not happened yet, but in a short time or relatively short time it will. In certain contexts, you can remove the middle part, and just say 快了. Using this structure is like say "going to. . .real soon."

Basic Usage with Verbs

Structure

快 + Verb （+ Object） + 了

Examples

• 快 下班 了 吗？
• 这 些 工作 快 做 完 了，我 晚点 下班。
• 你 快 到 家 了 吗？
• 我 快 到 了，你 开始 做 饭 吧。
• 我 觉得 快 下雨 了，我们 快 走 吧。
• 快 过年 了，你 什么 时候 回家？
• 小李 快 哭 了，你 别 开 玩笑 了。

Usage with 快 + 要

Another way you will see this same pattern used is in conjunction with the modal verb 要 (yào). 要 can have multiple meanings, one of which is "will" (referring to the future). You can insert it into the basic pattern, right before the verb.

Structure

快 + 要 + Verb + 了

Examples

• 你 快 要 下班 了 吗？
• 快 要 过年 了，你 什么 时候 回家？
• 小李 快 要 哭 了，你 别 开 玩笑 了。

These examples are the same as some of the ones above, with a "要" added. The addition of the "要" does not change the meanings.

Usage with Adjectives

Structure

快 + Ajective + 了

Examples

• 天 快 黑 了，他 怎么 还 没 回来？
• 他 快 死 了。

See also

• "Nearly" with "jihu"
• Approximations with "chabuduo"