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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

HSK 1
我正要给你打电话呢。
Wǒ zhèngyào gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà ne.
I was just about to call you.
HSK 2
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.
HSK 2
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.

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