快要

kuài yào

HSK 2.0 Level 3 HSK 3.0 Level 2 Adverb Common

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Definitions

1. nearly at the point of (doing sth); about to (do sth)

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Word relationships

Related words

1 item

• 马上 mǎ shàng 马上 mǎ shàng at once adverb meaning 'immediately', often used instead of 快要 for imminent actions without 了: at once

Synonyms

1 item

• 就要 jiù yào 就要 jiù yào will emphasizes immediacy; can be used with 了 like 快要, but may not require time specifier: will

Usage notes

Collocations

快要 cannot be directly followed by a specific time word like 明天; use 就要 instead, e.g., 明天就要考试了.

Common mistakes

快要 is almost always followed by 了 at the end of the clause, e.g., 快要下雨了. Omitting 了 is a frequent error.

Grammar

Guides that feature 快要

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1 guide

HSK 2.0 Level 2+ HSK 3.0 Level 2+ 6 min

About to Happen: 要, 快要, 就要……了

Say something is about to happen with 要……了, 快要……了 or 就要……了, and contrast it with 已经……了 for what has already happened.

Reading: kuài yào Open guide

Example Sentences

1 shown

我们 快要 到了。

We are almost there.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 快要

• 快要……了 快要……了 kuài yào …… le: about to …

Child Words of 快要

• 快 快 kuài: rapid
• 要 要 yāo: (bound form) to demand; to coerce
• 要 要 yào: to want; to need; to ask for