将要

• Pinyin: jiāng yào
• Hanzi breakdown: 将 = 爿 (bed) + 寸 (inch), meaning will/about to; 要 = 西 (west) + 女 (woman), meaning want/will

Meaning

About to; going to; will. Indicating imminent future action.

More formal than 要 alone for indicating future events. Often used in formal writing, news, and announcements. Emphasizes that something is about to happen soon.

Examples

1. 火车将要到站，请乘客们提前做好下车准备。 The train is about to arrive at the station; passengers please prepare to disembark.
2. 公司将要进行一次重大的组织架构调整。 The company is about to undergo a major organizational restructuring.
3. 她将要成为一名母亲，心里既紧张又期待。 She is about to become a mother, feeling both nervous and excited.

Usage Guide

Context: announcements, news, formal writing, predictions

Tone: anticipatory

Do Say

• 会议将要开始了。(The meeting is about to begin.)
• 暴风雨将要来临。(A storm is about to come.)

Don't Say

• 我将要吃饭了 (For casual speech about eating, just use 要 — 将要 sounds overly formal)

Origin & History

Compound of 将 (about to, will) + 要 (want, will), both indicating future action.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal