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即将 (jí jiāng) — to be about to; to be on the verge of; soon

Definition

即将 (jíjiāng) is a written/formal 'about to, on the verge of,' stronger and more literary than the similar-sounding 将要. Pairs with verbs like 到来, 开始, 起飞.

adverb
to be about toto be on the verge ofsoon

Examples

  • 即将，。
    Xīn nián jí jiāng dào lái, dà jiā dōu hěn kāi xīn.
    The New Year is about to arrive; everyone is very happy.
  • 即将，。
    Kǎo shì jí jiāng kāi shǐ, qǐng bǎ shǒu jī shōu qǐ lái.
    The exam is about to start; please put away your phones.
  • 即将，。
    Fēi jī jí jiāng qǐ fēi, qǐng xì hǎo ān quán dài.
    The plane is about to take off; please fasten your seatbelt.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

即jísoon
将jiāngwill

The 'soon' sense of 即 and the 'will' sense of 将 combine to mean about to happen.

Characters in this word

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

  • 皀皀jíancient round-mouthed food vessel
  • 卩卩jiéto kneel

即 pairs 皀 (an ancient round-mouthed food vessel) with 卩 (to kneel), showing someone kneeling near the vessel to eat, so it means to come near or approach.

Open 即 →

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.

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Appears in
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