要…了 / 就要…了
HSK 2- Aspect
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
The structure 要…了 / 就要…了 is used to express that an action or event is about to happen in the near future.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
The structure 要…了 signals that something is about to happen, equivalent to "about to..." in English. It emphasizes that an event will occur in the near future.
Adding the adverb 就 to form 就要…了 carries the same meaning but with a stronger emphasis on certainty or a specific timeframe. You can place a time reference (such as 明天, 下个星期) before 就要…了, but this is not permitted with 要…了 or 快要…了.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 天要下雨了。Tiān yào xià yǔ le.
It's going to rain soon.
- 火车就要开了。繁: 火車就要開了。Huǒchē jiù yào kāi le.
The train is about to depart.
- 我们要上课了。繁: 我們要上課了。Wǒmen yào shàngkè le.
We're about to go to class.
- 电影就要开始了。繁: 電影就要開始了。Diànyǐng jiù yào kāishǐ le.
The movie is about to start.
- 妈妈要回来了。繁: 媽媽要回來了。Māma yào huílái le.
Mom is coming back soon.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:我要吃饭。Correct:我要吃饭了。
Omitting 了 at the end of the sentence changes the meaning to "I want to eat rice" rather than "I am about to eat rice."
- Wrong:明天我要考试了。Correct:明天我就要考试了。
When a specific time adverbial (like 明天) appears at the beginning, use 就要…了 to emphasize.