正要 (zhēng) — be just about to, be on the point of (doing something)
Definition
正要 (zhèngyào) means 'was just about to' — a single action on the verge of happening, often paired with 就 to introduce an interruption. Sets up an 'almost... when...' situation.
verb
be just about tobe on the point of (doing something)
Examples
- 正要，。Wǒ zhēng chū mén, diàn huà jiù xiǎng le.I was just about to go out when the phone rang.
- 正要，。Tā zhēng kāi kǒu shuō huà, què bèi lǎo shī jiào zhù le.He was just about to speak when the teacher called him to stop.
- 正要，。Wǒ men zhēng chū fā, tiān tū rán xià qǐ le dà yǔ.We were just about to set off when it suddenly started to rain heavily.
Appears in
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