How to Say 'Almost Done' in Chinese: 快好了 and 差不多了
Learn two common ways to say 'almost done' in Mandarin Chinese: 快好了 and 差不多了. Understand their differences and use them in everyday situations.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
When you want to say that something is almost finished in Chinese, the two most common expressions are 快好了 (kuài hǎo le) and 差不多了 (chàbuduō le). Both mean 'almost done', but they are used in slightly different contexts. 快好了 emphasizes that the completion is imminent, often after some delay. 差不多了 suggests that something is close enough to being finished or that progress is sufficient. In this lesson, you'll learn how to use these phrases naturally, with clear examples and a dialogue. By the end, you'll be able to tell someone that a task, a meal, or an event is almost ready.
By the end, you can…
- say 'almost done' in Chinese using 快好了 and 差不多了.
- use these phrases appropriately in everyday conversations.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
快好了
Almost done
kuài hǎo le
Used when something will be finished very soon, often after taking longer than expected. Can be used for tasks, food, etc.
差不多了
Almost done / Just about ready
chàbuduō le
Indicates that something is nearly complete or sufficient. Often used when the remaining work is small or when you're close enough to finished.
马上就好
It'll be ready right away
mǎshàng jiù hǎo
A more immediate version, meaning 'in a moment'. Used when you want to reassure someone that it will be done very quickly.
再等一会儿
Wait a little longer
zài děng yīhuìr
A polite way to ask someone to wait a bit more, often used with 快好了 or 差不多了.
还没好
Not done yet
hái méi hǎo
Says it is not ready or finished yet. It does not specify how much work remains; something can be both nearly ready and not ready yet.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern 快 + [verb] + 了 indicates that an action is about to happen or be completed. For example, 快好了 means 'will be done soon'. Similarly, 快到了 means 'will arrive soon'. The word 差不多 means 'almost' or 'about the same', and when followed by 了, it expresses that something is nearly complete. For instance, 饭差不多了 means 'the meal is almost ready'. You can also use 差不多 alone as an adverb: 差不多吃完了 means 'almost finished eating'.
When to use it
Use 快好了 when you are actively working on something and it will be finished shortly. For example, if you are cooking and someone asks if dinner is ready, you can say 快好了. Use 差不多了 when the remaining work is small or when you want to say that something is close enough to being done. For example, if you are cleaning and someone asks if you're finished, you can say 差不多了. Both are informal and suitable for everyday conversations. In more formal situations, you might say 即将完成 (jíjiāng wánchéng) or 快要完成了 (kuàiyào wánchéng le).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
饭好了吗？
Is the meal ready?Fàn hǎo le ma?快好了，再等五分钟。
Almost done, wait five more minutes.Kuài hǎo le, zài děng wǔ fēnzhōng.我饿了，能不能快一点？
I'm hungry, can you hurry up?Wǒ è le, néng bu néng kuài yīdiǎn?差不多了，马上就好。
Almost done, it'll be ready right away.Chàbuduō le, mǎshàng jiù hǎo.A little context goes a long way
In Chinese culture, saying 快好了 or 差不多了 is a polite way to reassure someone without making them wait indefinitely. It's common to use these phrases even if a little more time is needed, as it shows that you are mindful of the other person's time. However, if you are significantly delayed, it's better to be honest and say 还没好, then give an estimated time.
One thing to watch for
Learners often say 快好了 to mean 'almost done' when they are not actually close to finishing, which can be misleading.
Try this instead: Use 快好了 only when you are truly close to finishing. If you are not close, say 还没好 (hái méi hǎo) or 还要一会儿 (hái yào yīhuìr). For example, if you just started cooking, say 还没好, not 快好了.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say 'almost done' when you are cooking and someone asks if dinner is ready?
Show a sample answer
快好了。
快好了 is appropriate because the meal will be ready soon. You could also say 差不多了, which is also correct.
2What is the difference between 快好了 and 差不多了?
Show a sample answer
快好了 emphasizes that completion is imminent, while 差不多了 suggests that something is nearly complete or sufficient.
Both mean 'almost done', but 快好了 is more about time, and 差不多了 is more about degree. In many contexts, they are interchangeable.
3How would you tell someone to wait a little longer because it's almost done?
Show a sample answer
再等一会儿，快好了。
This combines 'wait a little longer' with 'almost done'. You could also say 再等一会儿，差不多了。
Use 快好了 when something will be done very soon, and 差不多了 when it's nearly complete. Both are common and natural in everyday Chinese.
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