Expressing "already" with just "le"

You understand the word 已经 (yǐjīng) to mean "already" in Chinese, and it is followed with a 了 (le). However, sometimes, that feeling of "already" can also be expressed with 了 (le) alone.

Structure

[Verb phrase] + 了

Examples

• A: 老板 呢？ Lǎobǎn ne ? Where is the boss ?
• B: 走 了。 Zǒu le .He (already) left.

• A: 孩子 还在 上 大学 吗？ Háizi hái zài shàng dàxué ma ?Are your kids still in college ?
• B: 毕业 了。 Bìyè le .He (already) graduated.

• A: 用 我 的 车 吧？ Yòng wǒ de chě ba ?How about using my car ?
• B: 我们 有 车 了 。 Xièxie, wǒmen yǒu chē le .Thanks.We (already) had a car.

• A: 你 要 不 要 告诉 他？ Nǐ bú yào gàosù tā ? Will you tell him ?
• B: 他 知道 了。 Tā zhīdào le .He (already) knew .

• A: 你 应该 去 问 老师。 Nǐ yīnggāi qù wèn lǎoshī . You should go ask the teacher.
• B: 我 问 了。 Wǒ wèn le .I (already) did .

• A: 你 的 书 呢？ Nǐ de shū ne？ Where are your books?
• B: 放 包里 了。 Fàng bāo lǐ le .I (already) put them in my bags .

• A: 我们 买 什么 给 她 呢？ Wǒmen mǎi shénme gěi tā ne? What should we buy for her ?
• B: 他 说 了 她 什么 都 不要。 Tā shuō le tā shénme dōu bú yào .She (already) said that she doesn't want anything .

• A: 我们 去 找 他 一起 吃饭 吧？ Wǒmen qù zhǎo tā chīfàn ba ? Shall we ask him to have dinner together ?
• B: 他 在 家 吃 了 。 Tā zài jāi chī le .He (already) ate at home.

See also

• "Already" with "yijing"
• Expressing "not anymore" with "le"
• Uses of "le"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (p. 68) →buy
• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 126-9) →buy
• Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar (pp. 238-99) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 217-8) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 64-5) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (p. 8) →buy
• 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册） (p. 239)→buy

Websites

• Chinesegrammar.info: Chinese le grammar summary (了)