没等…就…
before A even happened, B already did
Structure
没等 A ， （主语） 就 B
What it means
'Before A even happened, B already did': B came sooner than expected, before A had a chance.
How it is built
没等 A，(subject) + 就 + B: 我没等他说完，就把电话挂了 (I hung up before he had even finished). A can be an event (没等天亮) or someone finishing something.
When to use it
Narrative. B usually has 就, often with 已经 or 了. 不等…就… is a close variant.
Watch out
No double negative: 没等他说完 already means 'before he had finished', so ✗没等他没说完。 Keep 就 in the second half: ✓没等天亮就出发了。
Examples
没等工厂正式通知，下岗的消息就传开了。
Before the factory even made it official, word of the layoffs had spread.
我没等他说完，就把电话挂了。
I hung up before he had even finished.
Learn this in Lesson 84 · HSK 6–7: 九十年代 (The 1990s)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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