Expressing "already" with just "le"

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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 if it is used in response to a preceding question or statement.

Structure

[Verb phrase] + 了

When "already" is implied using this structure, it is usually (if not always) in response to a preceding question or statement. Therefore, the following examples are in dialogue format.

Examples

  • A: 老板 呢？Lǎobǎn ne?Where is the boss?
  • B:他 走 了。Tā 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:他们 毕业 了。Tāmen bìyè le.They (already) graduated.
  • A: 用 我 的 车 吧？ Yòng wǒ de chě ba?How about using my car?
  • B:谢谢，我们 有 车 了。Xièxie, wǒmen yǒu chē le.Thanks. We (already) have a car.
  • A:你 要 不 要 告诉 他？Nǐ yào bú yào gàosu tā ? Are you going to tell him?
  • B:他 知道 了。Tā zhīdào le.He (already) knows.
  • 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 bag.
  • 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 yīqǐ 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

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites

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