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

  • 我 吃 饭 了 。 Wǒ chī fàn le. I've (already) eaten.
  • 我 已经 告诉 他 了 。 Wǒ yǐjīng gàosu tā le. I've already told him.
  • 你 已经 知道 了 。 Nǐ yǐjīng zhīdao le. "You knew (that) already."
  • 我 已经 做完 了 。 Wǒ yǐjīng zuòwán le. I already finished it.
  • 他 已经 走 了 。 Tā yǐjīng zǒu le. He has already left.
  • 已经 晚 了 。 Yǐjīng wǎn le. It's already late.
  • 我们 已经 在 飞机 上 了 。 Wǒmen yǐjīng zài fēijī shàng le. We're on the plane already.
  • 已经 学 过 了 。 (The subject is unclear here.)Yǐjīng xué guò le. Already studied it.
  • 面包 已经 买 了 。 (The subject is unclear here.)Miànbāo yǐjīng mǎi le. Already bought the bread.
  • 已经 给 你 了 。 (The subject is unclear here.)Yǐjīng gěi nǐ le. Already gave it to you.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites

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