正好正好 zhènghǎo is made of 正正 zhèng (“exactly, right on”) + 好好 hǎo (“good”). Whether it’s timing, size, or an amount, it means things fit together perfectly, often by chance.
1Structure
S + 正好正好 zhènghǎo + V: “happen to”
As an adverb, 正好正好 zhènghǎo shows that two things coincide. Often the timing is convenient, but it can also be unlucky.
我正好要去超市，順便幫你買牛奶吧
我正好要去超市，顺便帮你买牛奶吧
I happen to be going to the supermarket. I’ll pick up some milk for you while I’m there.
你打電話來的時候，我正好在洗澡
你打电话来的时候，我正好在洗澡
When you called, I just happened to be in the shower.
我們正好住在同一棟大樓
我们正好住在同一栋大楼
We happen to live in the same building.
他生日那天正好是星期六
他生日那天正好是星期六
His birthday happens to fall on a Saturday.
我去他家的時候，他正好不在
我去他家的时候，他正好不在
When I went to his place, he happened to be out.
我正好也想跟你說這件事
我正好也想跟你说这件事
Funny, I was just about to tell you about this too.
📌 Starting a sentence with 正好正好
正好正好 zhènghǎo can also stand alone at the start of a reply, followed by a comma: “Perfect timing, …” / “As it happens, …”
你在找王老師嗎？你在找王老师吗？
A: Are you looking for Mr. Wang?
正好，他剛進來正好，他刚进来
B: Perfect timing, he just came in.
正好正好 zhènghǎo as a predicate: “just right”
On its own, or after V + 得得 de, 正好正好 zhènghǎo means something is exactly the right size, amount, or timing.
這雙鞋不大不小，正好
这双鞋不大不小，正好
These shoes aren’t too big or too small. They’re just right.
你來得正好，我們剛要吃飯
你来得正好，我们刚要吃饭
You came at just the right time. We’re about to eat.
今天不冷不熱，正好適合去爬山
今天不冷不热，正好适合去爬山
It’s not cold or hot today, perfect for a hike.
這碗湯的味道正好，不鹹也不淡
这碗汤的味道正好，不咸也不淡
The flavor of this soup is just right, not too salty and not too bland.
正好正好 zhènghǎo + Number: “exactly”
Before a number, time, or amount, 正好正好 zhènghǎo means “exactly” or “precisely.”
一共正好一百塊
一共正好一百块
That comes to exactly one hundred dollars.
我到的時候正好十點
我到的时候正好十点
It was exactly ten o’clock when I arrived.
從我家走到捷運站正好五分鐘
从我家走到地铁站正好五分钟
It takes exactly five minutes to walk from my place to the MRT station.
這本書正好兩百頁
这本书正好两百页
This book is exactly two hundred pages long.
2Common Mistakes
❌
這件衣服很正好
这件衣服很正好
✅
這件衣服正好
这件衣服正好
正好正好 zhènghǎo already means “exactly right,” so it can’t be modified by degree adverbs like 很很 hěn.
❌
你打電話來的時候，我正好開車
你打电话来的时候，我正好开车
✅
你打電話來的時候，我正在開車
你打电话来的时候，我正在开车
To say what you were in the middle of doing, use 正在正在 zhèngzài. 正好正好 zhènghǎo is about coincidence, and needs something like 在在 zài + place or 要要 yào + V: 我正好在路上我正好在路上 wǒ zhènghǎo zài lùshàng.
3Practice
Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.
01I happen to have two tickets. Do you want to come with me?
我正好有兩張票，你要不要跟我一起去
我正好有两张票，你要不要跟我一起去？
👆 Tap to reveal
02When I got to the station, the train happened to be leaving.
我到車站的時候，火車正好要開了
我到车站的时候，火车正好要开了。
👆 Tap to reveal
03This year Mid-Autumn Festival happens to be on a Sunday.
今年中秋節正好是星期天
今年中秋节正好是星期天。
👆 Tap to reveal
04This hat is just the right size.
這頂帽子大小正好
这顶帽子大小正好。
👆 Tap to reveal
05You came at just the right time. I need your help.
你來得正好，我需要你的幫忙
你来得正好，我需要你的帮忙。
👆 Tap to reveal
06There are exactly twenty students in our class.
我們班正好有二十個學生
我们班正好有二十个学生。
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07She happens to be my neighbor.
她正好是我的鄰居
她正好是我的邻居。
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08I happen to be free tonight. Let’s have dinner together.
我今天晚上正好有空，我們一起吃晚飯吧
我今天晚上正好有空，我们一起吃晚饭吧。
👆 Tap to reveal
