ChineseGrammarWiki/ancien/Chinese-Grammar-Wiki/MD/A2/90.mw

{{Grammar Box}} 

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 [[Change of state with "le"|using 了 to indicate a change of situation]].

== 快⋯⋯了 (kuài... le) with Verbs ==

When using "快 ⋯⋯了" (kuài... le) with [[verb]]s, it takes on a meaning similar to the English "just about to." Normally you can add 要 (yào) before the verb.

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
快+ Verb / Verb Phrase + 了
</div>

<div class="jiegou">
快要 + Verb / Verb Phrase + 了
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

* 我们 <em>快</em> 到 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>kuài</em> dào <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">We're almost there.</span>
* <em>快</em> 下雨 <em>了</em>，我们 走 吧。<span class="pinyin"><em>Kuài</em> xiàyǔ <em>le</em>, wǒmen zǒu ba.</span><span class="trans">It's going to rain soon. Let's go.</span>
* <em>快 要</em> 过年 <em>了</em>，你 什么 时候 回家？<span class="pinyin"><em>Kuài yào</em> guònián <em>le</em>, nǐ shénme shíhou huíjiā? </span><span class="trans">It's almost Chinese New Year. When are you going back to your hometown?</span>
* 我 女朋友 <em> 快 要</em> 过 生日 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Wǒ nǚpéngyou <em>kuài yào</em> guò shēngrì <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">My girlfriend is about to have her birthday.</span>
* <em>快</em> 下车 <em>了</em> ，你 再 等 一会儿。<span class="pinyin"><em>Kuài</em> xiàchē <em>le</em>, nǐ zài děng yīhuìr.</span><span class="trans">We're about to get off. Just wait a little while.</span>

</div>

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 ===

<div class="jiegou">

快 + Adj. + 了

</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

* 天 <em>快</em> 黑 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tiān <em>kuài</em> hēi <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">It’s almost getting dark.</span>
* 我 <em>快</em> 好 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>kuài</em> hǎo <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm almost ready.</span>
* 饭 <em>快</em> 凉 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Fàn <em>kuài</em> liáng <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">The food is about to be cold.</span>
* 这些 脏 衣服 <em>快</em> 臭 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhèxiē zāng yīfu <em>kuài</em> chòu <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">These dirty clothes are about to smell bad.</span>
* 不 能 再 喝 了，我 <em>快</em> 醉 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Bù néng zài hē le, wǒ <em>kuài</em> zuì <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I can't drink another, I am almost drunk.</span>

</div>

== 要⋯⋯了 (yào... le) with Verbs ==

=== Structure ===

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

<div class="jiegou">

Subj. + 要 + Verb / Verb Phrase / Adj. + 了

</div>

Note that occasionally you'll see [[adjective]]s (instead of verbs) in this pattern as well.

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

* 我 <em>要</em> 生气 <em>了</em>！<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yào</em> shēngqì <em>le</em>!</span><span class="trans">I'm going to get angry! </span>
* 他们 的 孩子 <em>要</em> 出生 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen de háizi <em>yào</em> chūshēng <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">Their child is about to be born.</span>
* 9 点 了，超市 <em>要</em> 关门 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Jiǔ diǎn le, chāoshì <em>yào</em> guānmén <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">It's 9 o'clock. The supermarket is about to close.</span>
* 我 最好 的 朋友 <em>要</em> 结婚 <em>了</em>！<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zuìhǎo de péngyou <em>yào</em> jiéhūn <em>le</em>!</span><span class="trans">My best friend is about to get married! </span>
* 圣诞节 <em>要</em> 到 <em>了</em>，你 有 什么 打算 ？<span class="pinyin">Shèngdànjié <em>yào</em> dào <em>le</em>, nǐ yǒu shénme dǎsuàn?</span><span class="trans">It's almost Christmas. What plans do you have?</span>

</div>

==See also==

*[["Nearly" with "jihu"]]
*[[Approximations with "chabuduo"]]
*[[Expressing future with "jiang"]]

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Books ===

{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|267-8}}
* [[Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)]] (p.183)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7301075294/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7301075294 →buy]
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 267-8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)]] (pp. 196-7) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297 →buy]
*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册）]] (p. 271)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]

=== Websites ===

* ChinesePod: [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/%E4%BA%86-le-somethings-about-to-happen Qing Wen - 了 (le): Something's About to Happen] (free podcast content)

[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|快|A2|快 + Verb / Adj. + 了|<em>快</em> 下班 <em>了</em> 吗？|grammar point|ASGNGEU8}}
{{Rel char|了}}
{{Rel char|要}}
{{Similar|Expressing "be going to" with "yao"}}
{{Similar|Auxiliary verb "yao" and its multiple meanings}}   
{{Used for|Expressing time and date}}
{{Used for|Sequencing events in time}}
{{Used for|Referring to changes of situation}}
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
{{Translation|about}}