Difference between revisions of "Expressing "now" with "le""
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| − | * 知道 <em>了</em> 。<span class="expl">This is something I didn't know before now</span><span class="pinyin">Zhīdào <em>le</em>.</span> <span class="trans">Got it. / I see.</span> | + | * 知道 <em>了</em> 。<span class="expl">This is something I didn't know before now</span><span class="pinyin">Zhīdào <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">Got it. / I see.</span> |
| − | * 懂 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Dǒng <em>le</em>.</span> <span class="trans">Now I understand.</span> | + | * 懂 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Dǒng <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">Now I understand.</span> |
| − | * 吃饭 <em>了</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Chīfàn <em>le</em>!</span> <span class="trans">Time to eat!</span> | + | * 吃饭 <em>了</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Chīfàn <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">Shàngkè <em>le</em>! </span> <span class="trans">Class begins now! </span> | + | * 上课 <em>了</em> ！ <span class="pinyin">Shàngkè <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> |
| − | * 快 点儿 ， 开会 <em>了</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Kuài diǎnr, kāihuì <em>le</em>! </span> <span class="trans">Hurry up, it's time for the meeting now! </span> | + | * 快 点儿 ， 开会 <em>了</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Kuài diǎnr, kāihuì <em>le</em>! </span><span class="trans">Hurry up, it's time for the meeting now! </span> |
| − | * 该 你 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Gāi nǐ <em>le</em>.</span> <span class="trans">It's your turn now.</span> | + | * 该 你 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Gāi nǐ <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">It's your turn now.</span> |
* 电影 开始 <em>了</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Diànyǐng kāishǐ <em>le</em>! </span><span class="trans">The movie is starting now! </span> | * 电影 开始 <em>了</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Diànyǐng kāishǐ <em>le</em>! </span><span class="trans">The movie is starting now! </span> | ||
Revision as of 03:53, 24 May 2017
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 nowGot 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)
