Chinese–EnglishWith examples

正要

zhèng yào · zheng yao

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to be just about to
  2. to be on the point of
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In a conversation

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Same idea

  1. Liangliang

    灯灯(dēngdēng)，你(nǐ)正要(zhèngyào)出门(chūmén)吗(ma)？

    Dengdeng, are you just about to go out?

  2. Dengdeng

    对(duì)，我(wǒ)正要(zhèngyào)去(qù)超市(chāoshì)买(mǎi)鸡蛋(jīdàn)。

    Yes, I am about to go to the supermarket to buy eggs.

  3. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)正要(zhèngyào)告诉(gàosu)你(nǐ)，我(wǒ)昨天(zuótiān)买了(mǎile)十个(shígè)鸡蛋(jīdàn)。

    I was about to tell you, I bought ten eggs yesterday.

  4. Dengdeng

    十个(shígè)？我(wǒ)昨天(zuótiān)也(yě)买了(mǎile)十个(shígè)！

    Ten? I bought ten yesterday too!

  5. Liangliang

    那(nà)我们(wǒmen)现在(xiànzài)有(yǒu)二十个(èrshígè)鸡蛋(jīdàn)了(le)。

    So now we have twenty eggs.

  6. Dengdeng

    今晚(jīnwǎn)做(zuò)蛋炒饭(dànchǎofàn)吧(ba)！

    Let us make egg fried rice tonight!

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

我(wǒ)正(zhèng)要(yào)出(chū)门(mén)的(de)时(shí)候(hou)，电(diàn)话(huà)就(jiù)响(xiǎng)起(qǐ)了(le)。

I was about to go out when the phone rang.

Tatoeba: Chinese by nickyeow · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

02

她(tā)正(zhèng)要(yào)坐(zuò)下(xià)，忽(hū)然(rán)听(tīng)见(jiàn)有(yǒu)人(rén)敲(qiāo)门(mén)。

She was just about to sit down when she suddenly heard someone knocking.

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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