正好 (coincidence)

• 拼音: zhènghǎo
• 结构: Subj. + 正好 + Verb Phrase
• 汉字拆解: 正 = 一 (one) + 止 (stop), 好 = 女 (woman) + 子 (child)

含义

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.

例句

1. 我正好有两张票，你要不要一起去？
2. 你来得正好，我们刚开始吃饭。
3. 他正好经过这里，就顺便来看看我们。

用法指南

语境: spoken, written, everyday

语气: conversational

正确说法

• 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。

错误说法

• 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。

起源与历史

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.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal