Lesson 3: Change and imminent actions

Use 了 at the end of a sentence to express change; the various 要……了 forms to say something is about to happen; and 该……了 and 都……了.

Hanyu textbook · Hanyu 3 · Lesson 3

快要下雪了。

Kuàiyào xià xuě le.

It's going to snow soon.

Explanation

Expressing change: the modal particle “了” used at the end of a sentence also expresses change. “不……了” also expresses change.

Actions that are about to happen: Chinese uses “要……了, 就要……了, 快要……了, 快……了”. Note: when the sentence has a specific time expression as an adverbial, you cannot use “快要……了”; you must use “就要……了”.

“都……了”

between “都……了” there is mostly a time word or a measure-word phrase, expressing that it is late, that someone is old, or that the quantity is large. “都” means “已经”, adds emphasis, and is pronounced lightly.

“该……了” expresses a conclusion, based on reason and experience, that a result is bound to occur or is likely to occur.

Structure

1
…了 (cuối câu) · 不V/……了
Expresses a change from before (the textbook adds notes: 树叶已经黄了 = autumn has come; 我不回国了 = I used to plan to go back to my country).
- 树叶已经黄了。
  Shùyè yǐjīng huáng le.
  The leaves have already turned yellow (autumn has come).
- 他已经参加工作了。
  Tā yǐjīng cānjiā gōngzuò le.
  He has started working (he used to be at university).
- 她又想跟我们一起去了。
  Tā yòu xiǎng gēn wǒmen yìqǐ qù le.
  She wants to go with us again (before, she didn't want to).
- 这件衣服小了。
  Zhè jiàn yīfu xiǎo le.
  This coat has become too tight (it can't be worn any more).
- 结婚后，她不工作了。
  Jiéhūn hòu, tā bù gōngzuò le.
  After getting married, she no longer goes to work.
- 我不回国了。
  Wǒ bù huí guó le.
  I'm not going back to my country any more.
- 我今天不发烧了。
  Wǒ jīntiān bù fāshāo le.
  My fever is gone today.
2
要……了 / 就要……了 / 快要……了 / 快……了
An action about to happen. If a specific time word is the adverbial, use 就要, not 快要.
- 要上课了。
  Yào shàngkè le.
  Class is about to start.
- 快要下雪了。
  Kuàiyào xià xuě le.
  It's going to snow soon.
- 再有两个月就要放寒假了。
  Zài yǒu liǎng ge yuè jiù yào fàng hánjià le.
  Winter vacation starts in two months.
- 下个月姐姐就要结婚了。
  Xià ge yuè jiějie jiù yào jiéhūn le.
  She's getting married next month.
- 你看，快下雨了。我们快走吧。
  Nǐ kàn, kuài xià yǔ le. Wǒmen kuài zǒu ba.
  Look, it's about to rain. Let's hurry.
3
都từ chỉ thời gian/số lượng了
都 = 已经, adds emphasis and is read lightly: it's late, someone is old, or the quantity is large.
- 都七点五十五了，快走吧。
  Dōu qī diǎn wǔshíwǔ le, kuài zǒu ba.
  It's already seven fifty-five; hurry up.
- 都二十岁了，自己的事情应该自己做了。
  Dōu èrshí suì le, zìjǐ de shìqing yīnggāi zìjǐ zuò le.
  You're twenty already; you have to take care of your own things.
4
该Vverb了
Based on reason and experience, inferring a result that is bound to happen or likely to happen.
- 十二点了，该睡觉了。
  Shí’èr diǎn le, gāi shuìjiào le.
  It's twelve o'clock; time to go to sleep.
- 时间到了，该出发了。
  Shíjiān dào le, gāi chūfā le.
  It's time; we should set off.

Usage notes

If a specific time word is the adverbial (下个月, 八点, 明天, 再过五天…), use 就要……了, not 快要……了.
“都” in “都……了” = 已经, adds emphasis and is read lightly.

Common mistakes

~~下个月姐姐快要结婚了~~
下个月姐姐就要结婚了
the textbook: 下个月快要姐姐结婚了 → 姐姐下个月就要结婚了
~~我们八点快要上课了~~
我们八点就要上课了
or 我们快要上课了
~~要天气冷了，我该买冬天的衣服~~
天要冷了，我该买冬天的衣服了
~~听说我要回国，妈妈快要高兴了~~
听说我快要回国，妈妈很高兴

Practice

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