Difference between revisions of "Expressing "now" with "le""
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* 吃 饭 <em>了</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Chī fàn <em>le</em>!</span> <span class="trans">Time to eat!</span> | * 吃 饭 <em>了</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Chī fàn <em>le</em>!</span> <span class="trans">Time to eat!</span> | ||
* 我 走 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zǒu <em>le</em>.</span> <span class="trans">I'm leaving now.</span> | * 我 走 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zǒu <em>le</em>.</span> <span class="trans">I'm leaving now.</span> | ||
| − | * 他 来 <em>了</em> 。<span class="expl">This can also mean "He's here now." Be careful! </span><span class="pinyin">Tā lái <em>le</em>. </span> <span class="trans">He's coming over now. /He's on the way. </span> | + | * 他 来 <em>了</em> 。<span class="expl">This can also mean "He's here now." Be careful! </span><span class="pinyin">Tā lái <em>le</em>. </span> <span class="trans">He's coming over now. / He's on the way. </span> |
* 上课 <em>了</em> ！ <span class="pinyin">Shàng kè <em>le</em>! </span> <span class="trans">Class begins now! </span> | * 上课 <em>了</em> ！ <span class="pinyin">Shàng kè <em>le</em>! </span> <span class="trans">Class begins now! </span> | ||
* 我 去 睡觉 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ qù shuìjiào <em>le</em>. </span> <span class="trans">I'm going to bed now. </span> | * 我 去 睡觉 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ qù shuìjiào <em>le</em>. </span> <span class="trans">I'm going to bed now. </span> | ||
Revision as of 08:27, 14 March 2016
现在 (xiànzài) isn't the only way to express "now." You'll notice that in many common expressions, 了 (le) is used in place of the word for "now."
Structure
This pattern is actually the same as change of state with "le", but the examples below are somewhat idiomatic and can also easily be confused with a direct translation of "now" in Chinese, so they get special treatment here.
[New Situation] + 了
Examples
- 知道 了 。This is something I didn't know before now Got it. / I see.
- 懂 了 。 Now I understand.
- 吃 饭 了 ！ Time to eat!
- 我 走 了 。 I'm leaving now.
- 他 来 了 。This can also mean "He's here now." Be careful! He's coming over now. / He's on the way.
- 上课 了 ！ Class begins now!
- 我 去 睡觉 了 。 I'm going to bed now.
- 快 点儿 ， 开会 了 ！ Hurry up, it's time for the meeting now!
- 该 你 了 。 It's your turn now.
- 电影 开始 了 ！The movie is starting now!
See also
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)
