行将 (xíng jiāng) — (formal, before a verb) about to, on the verge of

Definition

Written/formal adverb meaning 'about to', placed before a verb. Much more literary than the everyday 快要 or 就要.

(formal, before a verb) about toon the verge of

Examples

  • 行将。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù xíng jiāng jié shù.
    This project is about to end.
  • 行将。
    Chūn tiān xíng jiāng lái lín.
    Spring is about to arrive.
  • 行将。
    Zhè ge gǔ lǎo de xí sú xíng jiāng xiāo shī.
    This ancient custom is about to disappear.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

行xíngabout to
将jiāngabout to

Both '行' and '将' mean about to, so together they stress that something is on the verge of happening.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 彳彳chì
  • 亍亍chù

The shape of 行 originally showed a street intersection, even on both sides. Later it became uneven, with 彳 on the left and 亍 on the right.

Open 行 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 將; 将 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròumeat
寸寸cùnhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
爿
爿pán將jiāng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 將 combines 爿, which also supplies a sound and may show a small table, with ⺼ (meat) and 寸 (hand) to picture offering meat as tribute. The simplified 将 is a later shorthand.

Open 将 →

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