Difference between revisions of "Expressing "already" with just "le""
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 老板 呢？<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn ne? </span><span class="trans">Where is the boss? </span></li> | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 老板 呢？<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn ne? </span><span class="trans">Where is the boss? </span></li> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他 走 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zǒu <em>le</em>. </span><span class="trans">He (already) left. </span></li> | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他 走 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zǒu <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">He (already) left.</span></li> |
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 孩子 还在 上 大学 吗？<span class="pinyin">Háizi hái zài shàng dàxué ma? </span><span class="trans">Are your kids still in college? </span></li> | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 孩子 还在 上 大学 吗？<span class="pinyin">Háizi hái zài shàng dàxué ma? </span><span class="trans">Are your kids still in college? </span></li> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他们 工作 <em>了</em>。<span class="expl">This expression emphasizes that they're not students anymore, and have already entered the workforce.</span><span class="pinyin">Tāmen gōngzuò <em>le</em>. </span><span class="trans">They (already) work. </span></li> | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他们 工作 <em>了</em>。<span class="expl">This expression emphasizes that they're not students anymore, and have already entered the workforce.</span><span class="pinyin">Tāmen gōngzuò <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">They (already) work.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 用 我 的 车 吧？<span class="pinyin">Yòng wǒ de chē ba? </span><span class="trans">How about using my car? </span></li> | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 用 我 的 车 吧？<span class="pinyin">Yòng wǒ de chē ba? </span><span class="trans">How about using my car? </span></li> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>谢谢，我们 有 车 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Xièxie, wǒmen yǒu chē <em>le</em>. </span><span class="trans">Thanks. We (already) have a car. </span></li> | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>谢谢，我们 有 车 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Xièxie, wǒmen yǒu chē <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">Thanks. We (already) have a car.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 要 不 要 告诉 他？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào bu yào gàosu tā? </span><span class="trans">Are you going to tell him? </span></li> | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 要 不 要 告诉 他？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào bu yào gàosu tā? </span><span class="trans">Are you going to tell him? </span></li> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他 知道 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zhīdào <em>le</em>. </span><span class="trans">He (already) knows. </span></li> | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他 知道 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zhīdào <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">He (already) knows.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
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| − | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 应该 问 老师。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yīnggāi wèn lǎoshī. </span><span class="trans">You should ask the teacher. </span></li> | + | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 应该 问 老师。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yīnggāi wèn lǎoshī. </span><span class="trans">You should ask the teacher.</span></li> |
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 问 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ wèn <em>le</em>. </span><span class="trans">I (already) asked. </span></li> | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 问 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ wèn <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I (already) asked.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
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Revision as of 04:14, 24 May 2017
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
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
Examples
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.
- A: 老板 呢？Where is the boss?
- B:他 走 了。He (already) left.
- A: 孩子 还在 上 大学 吗？Are your kids still in college?
- B:他们 工作 了。This expression emphasizes that they're not students anymore, and have already entered the workforce.They (already) work.
- A: 用 我 的 车 吧？How about using my car?
- B:谢谢，我们 有 车 了。Thanks. We (already) have a car.
- A:你 要 不 要 告诉 他？Are you going to tell him?
- B:他 知道 了。He (already) knows.
- A:你 应该 问 老师。You should ask the teacher.
- B:我 问 了。I (already) asked.
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)
