正好 (coincidence)

• Pinyin: zhènghǎo
• Formation: Subj. + 正好 + Verb Phrase
• Hanzi breakdown: 正 = 一 (one) + 止 (stop), 好 = 女 (woman) + 子 (child)

Meaning

The adverb 正好 means 'just so happens,' 'coincidentally,' or 'exactly right.' It indicates that a situation aligns perfectly with another, whether by lucky coincidence, exact fit, or perfect timing.

正好 has two related uses: expressing coincidence and expressing exactness. For coincidence, it means 'it just so happens that' — 我正好有两张票 (I happen to have two tickets). For exactness, it means 'just right' or 'exactly' — 这双鞋正好合适 (these shoes fit perfectly). When used before a verb, it typically signals coincidence. When used after a verb or as a predicate complement, it often signals exactness. Unlike 刚好, which is nearly synonymous, 正好 is slightly more versatile and can also mean 'exactly' in terms of quantity or measurement. It frequently appears in storytelling to set up a convenient connection between events.

Examples

1. 我正好有两张票，你要不要一起去？ I happen to have two tickets — do you want to go together?
2. 你来得正好，我们刚开始吃饭。 You came at just the right time — we just started eating.
3. 他正好经过这里，就顺便来看看我们。 He happened to be passing by, so he stopped in to see us.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: conversational

Do Say

• 她正好认识那个公司的经理。
• 我正好带了伞，你用我的吧。
• 这件衣服正好是我喜欢的颜色。

Don't Say

• 他正好地到了。(正好 is an adverb that directly modifies the verb — do not add 地 after it) → 他正好到了。
• 我们正好了有时间。(正好 does not take 了 — it describes a coincidental state, not a completed action) → 我们正好有时间。

Origin & History

正好 combines 正 (just/right) and 好 (good/well), literally meaning 'just right.' It captures the idea of perfect alignment between circumstances, whether by coincidence or exact fit. It has been a staple of conversational Mandarin for centuries.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal