Difference between revisions of "Expressing "already" with just "le""

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
You understand the word [[ASGNXI27|已经 (yǐjīng)]] to mean "already" in Chinese, and it is followed with a [[了|了 (le)]]. However, sometimes, that feeling of "already" can also be expressed with 了 (le) alone.
+
You understand the word [[ASGNXI27|已经 (yǐjīng)]] to mean "already" in Chinese, and it is followed with a [[了|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 ==
 
== Structure ==
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</div>
 
</div>
 +
 +
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 ==
 
== Examples ==
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul class="dialog">
 
<ul class="dialog">
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 老板 呢?<span class="pinyin"> Lǎobǎn ne ? </span><span class="trans">Where is the boss ?</span></li>
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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">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">B:</span>走 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zǒu <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">He (already) left.</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul class="dialog">
 
<ul class="dialog">
<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">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> 毕业 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Bìyè <em> le </em>.</span><span class="trans">He (already) graduated.</span></li>
+
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他们 毕业 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen bìyè <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">They (already) graduated.</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul class="dialog">
 
<ul class="dialog">
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 用 我 的 车 吧? <span class="pinyin"> Yòng wǒ de chě 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 chě ba?</span><span class="trans">How about using my car?</span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 我们 有 车 <em> 了 </em>。<span class="pinyin"> Xièxie, wǒmen yǒu chē <em> le </em>.</span><span class="trans">Thanks.We (already) had a car.</span></li>
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<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>
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul class="dialog">
 
<ul class="dialog">
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 要 不 要 告诉 他?<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ bú yào gàosù tā ? </span><span class="trans"> Will you tell him ?</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 要 不 要 告诉 他?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bú yào gàosù 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) knew .</span></li>
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<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>
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul class="dialog">
 
<ul class="dialog">
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 应该 去 问 老师。<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ  yīnggāi qù wèn lǎoshī . </span><span class="trans"> You should go ask the teacher. </span></li>
+
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 应该 去 问 老师。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ  yīnggāi qù wèn lǎoshī. </span><span class="trans">You should go 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) did .</span></li>
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<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) did.</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul class="dialog">
 
<ul class="dialog">
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 的 书 呢?<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ de shū ne?</span><span class="trans"> Where are your books? </span></li>
+
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 的 书 呢?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de shū ne?</span><span class="trans">Where are your books?</span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 放 包里 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Fàng bāo lǐ <em> le </em>.</span><span class="trans">I (already) put them in my bags .</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 放 包里 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Fàng bāo lǐ <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I (already) put them in my bag.</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul class="dialog">
 
<ul class="dialog">
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 我们 买 什么 给 她 呢?<span class="pinyin"> Wǒmen mǎi shénme gěi tā ne? </span><span class="trans"> What should we buy for her ?</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 我们 买 什么 给 她 呢?<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen mǎi shénme gěi tā ne?</span><span class="trans">What should we buy for her?</span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 他 说 <em>了</em> 她 什么 都 不要。<span class="pinyin"> Tā shuō <em> le </em> tā shénme dōu bú yào .</span><span class="trans">She (already) said that she doesn't want anything .</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他 说 <em>了</em> 她 什么 都 不 要。<span class="pinyin">Tā shuō <em>le</em> tā shénme dōu bú yào.</span><span class="trans">She (already) said that she doesn't want anything.</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul class="dialog">
 
<ul class="dialog">
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 我们 去 找 他 一起 吃饭 吧?<span class="pinyin"> Wǒmen qù zhǎo tā chīfàn ba ? </span><span class="trans"> Shall we ask him to have dinner together ?</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 我们 去 找 他 一起 吃饭 吧?<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen qù zhǎo tā yīqǐ chīfàn ba? </span><span class="trans">Shall we ask him to have dinner together?</span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 他 在 家 吃 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin"> Tā zài jāi chī <em> le </em>.</span><span class="trans">He (already) ate at home.</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他 在 家 吃 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zài jāi chī <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">He (already) ate at home.</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>

Revision as of 06:06, 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 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 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 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 Xièxie, wǒmen yǒu chē le.Thanks. We (already) have a car.
  • A:你 要 不 要 告诉 他?Nǐ bú yào gàosù tā ? Are you going to tell him?
  • B:他 知道 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 Wǒ wèn le.I (already) did.
  • A: 你 的 书 呢?Nǐ de shū ne?Where are your books?
  • B: 放 包里 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 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 Tā zài jāi chī le.He (already) ate at home.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites