正好 - Expressing Coincidence
HSK 4
The Chinese word 正好 (zhènghǎo) is a versatile term that can be used both as an adjective and an adverb, making it a handy expression for talking about coincidences.
Whether you're referring to time, size, volume, quantity, or even degree, 正好 fits perfectly into these situations. It’s similar to how in English we might say, “Oh, the restaurant you suggested just happens to be my favorite!”, which in Chinese would be “你推荐的这家餐厅正好是我最喜欢的！’’
It’s that delightful moment when something aligns perfectly with what you needed or hoped for, making it a great way to express those little surprises in everyday life.
Sample Sentences
我正好要去超市，可以帮你买东西。(I just happen to be going to the supermarket, so I can help you buy some things.)
今天我正好有空，我们一起去看电影吧。(I just happen to be free today, so let's go watch a movie together.)
会议刚结束，你打电话来得正好。(The meeting just ended, and your call came at the perfect time.
In a Text
今天早上，我正好比平时早起了十分钟。于是，我决定出门散散步。走到公园时，正好碰到了一位许久未见的老朋友。我们聊了很久，他告诉我他最近刚换了工作，生活也变得更加忙碌了。我本打算散步结束后去咖啡馆买杯咖啡，结果正好发现他也要去同一家咖啡馆。我们就一起走过去，点了咖啡，继续聊了很长时间。这次偶遇让我的一天变得格外美好。
忙碌 (mánglù): Busy
偶遇 (ǒuyù): Chance encounter
格外 (géwài): Especially
This morning, I happened to wake up ten minutes earlier than usual. So, I decided to go out for a walk. When I arrived at the park, I just happened to run into an old friend I hadn’t seen in a long time. We talked for a while, and he told me that he recently changed jobs and that his life has become much busier. I was planning to go to a café for a coffee after my walk, and it turned out that he was also heading to the same café. We walked there together, ordered coffee, and continued chatting for a long time. This chance encounter made my day especially wonderful
.