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正要

zhèngyào
adverb #7,375

Meanings

  1. 1 just about to; on the point of
  2. 2 was just going to

Characters

正
zhèng
just; right at (the moment)
要
yào
to want; will; about to
正 (right at this moment) + 要 (about to) = 'just about to do something.'

Examples

我正要出门，你就来了。
Wǒ zhèngyào chūmén, nǐ jiù lái le.
I was just about to leave when you showed up.
他正要说话，电话响了。
Tā zhèngyào shuōhuà, diànhuà xiǎng le.
He was just about to speak when the phone rang.
我正要给你打电话呢。
Wǒ zhèngyào gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà ne.
I was just about to call you.

Tips

grammar
正要...的时候 or 正要...就... is a common pattern meaning 'was just about to... when...'. It emphasizes the coincidental timing of two events.

Stroke Order

正 zhèng
要 yào