Coincidence with "zhenghao"

正好 (zhènghǎo) can be used as an adjective or adverb to help express a coincidence, and it could be related to time, size, volume, quantity, degree, etc. In English we might say something similar like, “oh, this shirt you gave me just happens to be in my favorite color."

Used as "happen to be"

You can also use 正好 to mean "happen to be."

Structure

Subj. + 正好 + [Verb Phrase]

Examples

• 我 正好 要 出去 ，垃圾 我 来 扔 吧 。Wǒ zhènghǎo yào chūqù, lājī wǒ lái rēng ba.I'm just about to leave. I'll take out the trash.
• 你 来 了 ！我 正好 要 找 你 。Nǐ lái le! Wǒ zhènghǎo yào zhǎo nǐ.You are here! I was just looking for you.
• 他 正好 问 了 我 想 问 的 问题 。Tā zhènghǎo wèn le wǒ xiǎng wèn de wèntí.He happened to ask the question that I wanted to ask.
• 我 正好 也 在 这里 实习 。Wǒ zhènghǎo yě zài zhèlǐ shíxí.I happen to be interning here too.
• 正好 你们 都 是 单身 。Zhènghǎo nǐmen dōu shì dānshēn.You both happen to be single.
• 我 明天 见 他 ，正好 可以 问问 他 这 件 事 。Wǒ míngtiān jiàn tā, zhènghǎo kěyǐ wènwen tā zhè jiàn shì.I'm going to meet with him tomorrow. I can just ask him about this matter.
• 我们 正好 也 要 去 那儿 ，一起 走 吧 。Wǒmen zhènghǎo yě yào qù nàr, yīqǐ zǒu ba.We just happen to be going there. Let's go together.
• 我 敲 门 的 时候 ，他 正好 出门 。Wǒ qiāo mén de shíhou, tā zhènghǎo chūmén.He just happened to be leaving the house while I was knocking at the door.

Used as "just right"

You can also use 正好 by itself to mean "just right" or "just enough."

Examples of that usage:

• 这 件 衣服 的 大 小 正好 。Zhè jiàn yīfu de dà xiǎo zhènghǎo.The size of these clothes is just right.
• 水温 正好，不 冷 也 不 热 。Shuǐwēn zhènghǎo, bù lěng yě bù rè.The temperature of the water is perfect, not too cold, not too hot.

Sources and further reading

Books

• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 671) [ →buy]
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 90) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy