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> 走 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Zǒu <em> le </em>.</span><span class="trans">He left.</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 走 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin"> 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>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 毕业 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">  Bìyè <em> le </em>.</span><span class="trans">He (already) graduated.</span></li>
 
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Revision as of 01:48, 1 July 2015

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

  • A: 老板 呢? Lǎobǎn ne ? Where is the boss ?
  • B: 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: 毕业 Bìyè le .He (already) graduated.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites