To say something is about to happen, put 快 kuài, 快要 kuàiyào, 就要 jiùyào or 要 yào before the verb and 了 le at the end of the sentence. That final 了 shows the situation is about to change.
一 The Basic Pattern
Before you startThis page uses 了 at the end of a sentence (了2). Need a refresher? Check out 了 le Part 1 first.
Subject + 快 / 快要 / 就要 / 要 + Verb + 了
Any of these four words before the verb, plus 了 le at the end, means “the situation is about to change.”
他的生日快到了
His birthday is coming up soon.
他要睡覺睡觉了
He’s about to go to bed.
就要吃飯吃饭了
It’s almost time to eat.
中文課课快要開始开始了
Chinese class is about to start.
我明年就要回國回国了
I’m going back to my country next year.
快 + Number + 了
快 kuài can also go right before a number to mean “almost.”
快十二點点了
It’s almost 12 o’clock.
我爸爸快六十歲岁了
My dad is almost 60.
“I’m almost there!”In Taiwan, if you call a friend who’s late and they say 我快到了！ Wǒ kuài dào le! (“I’m almost there!”), don’t get your hopes up. Sometimes it really means “I just left home.” 😅
二 快, 快要, 就要 or 要?
They all mean “about to,” but there are some differences:
Word
Feeling
With a time word?
快 kuài
very soon
❌
快要 kuàiyào
very soon (same as 快)
❌
就要 jiùyào
soon; often feels a bit urgent
✅ 明年就要⋯了
要 yào
going to (the most neutral)
✅
✅ With a time word
我明年就要回國回国了
Use 就要 jiùyào when you name a time.
❌ With a time word
我明年快要回國回国了
快 kuài and 快要 kuàiyào can’t be used with a specific time like 明年 míngnián.
三 Common Mistakes
❌ 他下個个月快結婚结婚了
✅ 他下個个月就要結婚结婚了
There’s a time word (下個月 xià ge yuè下个月 xià ge yuè), so use 就要 jiùyào, not 快 kuài.
❌ 電影电影快開始开始
✅ 電影电影快開始开始了
Don’t forget the 了 le at the end! It’s what shows the situation is changing.
❌ 就要他們他们畢業毕业了
✅ 他們他们就要畢業毕业了
就要 jiùyào goes after the subject, right before the verb.
四 Practice
Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like, or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck. Careful: some tiles are traps and are not needed!
Question 1 of 10
“The train is almost here.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
火車火车快到了
快 kuài + verb + 了 le.
“It’s almost 3 o’clock.”
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❌ Try Again
快三點点了
快 kuài + number + 了 le = “almost.”
“My sister is getting married next month.”
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❌ Try Again
我妹妹下個个月就要結婚结婚了
Starting with 下個月 xià ge yuè下个月 xià ge yuè is also correct.
There’s a time word, so 就要 jiùyào. The 快要 kuàiyào tile is a trap.
“Winter is almost here.”
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❌ Try Again
冬天快要到了
快要 kuàiyào works just like 快 kuài.
“The baby is about to wake up.”
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寶寶宝宝快醒了
Quick, finish your coffee! ☕
“I’m about to head out.”
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我要出門出门了
要 yào + verb + 了 le: the most neutral “about to.”
“He’s almost 40.”
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他快四十歲岁了
快 kuài + number + 了 le.
“This semester is almost over.”
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這这學期学期快要結束结束了
Almost vacation! 🎉
“We’re leaving for Japan the day after tomorrow.”
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❌ Try Again
我們我们後天后天就要去日本了
Starting with 後天 hòutiān后天 hòutiān is also correct.
