Expressing "about to" with "jiuyao"

快要(kuàiyào) and 就要(jiùyào) are similar in their English meaning, which indicates "going to happen soon". 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

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。Wǒ kuài è sǐ le. I'm going starve very soon.
• 他 快要 去 美国 了。Tā kuàiyào qù Měiguó le. He's going to America very soon.
• 快要 下 雨 了！Kuàiyào xià yǔ le! It's going to rain very soon!
• 他们 就要 结婚 了。Tāmen jiùyào jiéhūn le. They are going to get married very soon.
• 就要 下课 了，还有 别的 问题 吗？Jiù yào xiàkè le, háiyǒu bié de wèntí ma? The class is almost over. Are there any other questions?

Situations where only "就要" can be used

快要(kuàiyào) is general "going to happen soon", but 就要(jiùyào) could be used to mark a more specific time. 要(yào) here can be omitted.

Structure

还有 + time period + 就（要） + Verb Phrase + 了

Examples

• 还有 十 天 宝宝 就 一 岁 了。Háiyǒu shí tiān bǎobǎo jiù yī suì le. Only three days away from the upcoming holiday.
• 还有 十 分钟 就 下班 了。Háiyǒu shí fēnzhōng jiù xiàbān le. Only three days away from the upcoming holiday.
• 还有 五 天 就要 放假 了。Háiyǒu wǔ tiān jiùyào fàngjià le. Only three days away from the upcoming holiday.
• 还有 一 个 月 就要 过 年 了。Háiyǒu yī gè yuè jiùyào guònián le. Only three days away from the upcoming holiday.
• 还有 两 个 星期 就要 考试 了。Háiyǒu liǎng gè xīngqí jiùyào kǎoshì le. Only three days away from the upcoming holiday.

See also

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

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)