elementaryA2 · TOCFL a2timegrammar
就要…了
Pattern
就要 + event + 了
Key words
Core idea
就要…了 means something is about to happen soon.
The event goes between 就要 and 了.
Compare with about to
This pattern is close to “be going to very soon.” It often appears with events that are already approaching.
Usage boundary
Use it for near-future events. It is not a general future tense marker for every planned action.
Examples
就要下雨了。
Jiù yào xià yǔ le.
It is about to rain.
电影就要开始了。
Diànyǐng jiù yào kāishǐ le.
The movie is about to start.
我们就要到家了。
Wǒmen jiù yào dào jiā le.
We are about to get home.
Common mistakes
Avoid
我们就到家要了。
Use
我们就要到家了。
就要 comes before the event that is about to happen; 了 closes the near-future pattern.