正要

zhèngyào

adverb #7,375

Meanings

正 (right at this moment) + 要 (about to) = 'just about to do something.'

我正要出门，你就来了。

Wǒzhèng yào 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。

Wǒzhèng yào gěi nǐ dǎdiànhuà ne.

I was just about to call you.

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.

正 zhèng

要 yào