Time Expression: 快要...了 (kuàiyào...le) - About To

This structure shows an event is imminent. It signals a change of state is coming. The word 快 means fast or quick. The word 要 means want or will. Together, they mean "going to be fast." The 了 at the end is crucial. It marks a new situation is starting. Without the 了, the sentence feels unfinished. It is like a sneeze that never happens. You need that 了 to complete the thought. This pattern focuses on the very near future. It is not for things happening next year. It is for things happening right now. You can use it for actions. You can also use it for states. It is very flexible and very friendly.

1. 1Follow these simple steps to build your sentence:
2. 2Start with your subject (like 我 or 火车).
3. 3Add the magic phrase 快要.
4. 4Put your verb or adjective next.
5. 5Always end the sentence with 了.
6. 6Structure: Subject + 快要 + Verb/Adjective + 了.
7. 7Example: 火车 (Subject) + 快要 + 开了 (Verb + 了).
8. 8This means "The train is about to leave."
9. 9Another example: 我 + 快要 + 饿死了.
10. 10This means "I am about to die of hunger."
11. 11It is a very simple and logical sandwich.

Use this when you see immediate signs. Use it when the sky turns grey. 快要下雨了 is a classic daily sentence. Use it when you are almost home. 我快要到家了 tells your family to get ready. It is perfect for deadlines at work. 会议快要开始了 warns your coworkers to hurry up. You can use it for physical feelings too. If you are very tired, say 我快要累死了. It adds a bit of drama to life. Use it for big life changes too. 他快要结婚了 means the wedding is very soon. It works for seasons and holidays as well. 快要过年了 brings a sense of excitement. Basically, use it whenever "soon" feels very close.

This is the most important rule to remember. Do not use specific time markers here. You cannot say "at 5 PM" with 快要. You cannot say "tomorrow" with 快要 either. If you have a specific time, use 就要. 快要 is for general, immediate feelings only. It is like saying "soon-ish" versus "at noon." Also, do not use it for the past. This is strictly a future-facing grammar point. If something already happened, this is not for you. Keep it for the things about to pop. Think of it as a ticking clock. If you know the exact minute, stop! Use a different pattern for exact times.

Many people add a specific time by accident. They say 我明天快要走了. This is a big no-no in Chinese. Just say 我快要走了 instead. Another mistake is forgetting the 了 at the end. 我快要走 sounds like a broken robot talking. Always remember the 了 to finish the change. Some people use 快要 for things far away. Don't say 我快要老了 if you are only twenty. It sounds a bit silly and dramatic. Use it for things that feel truly close. Also, don't confuse 快 with 快要. 快 can be an adverb for speed. 快要 is specifically about the timing of events. Even native speakers mess this up sometimes! Just keep your time markers far away.

Let's look at 快要...了 versus 就要...了. They both mean "about to" in English. But 就要 is much more flexible. 就要 can handle specific time markers easily. You can say 他明天就要走了. You cannot do that with 快要. Think of 快要 as more "natural." It happens because the time is just right. 就要 often feels more like a plan. Then there is the short version: 快...了. You can say 快下雨了 or 快要下雨了. They mean the exact same thing in daily talk. The 要 just adds a tiny bit of emphasis. Use the short version when you are in a hurry. Use the long version to sound more complete.