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

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<div class="liju">
 
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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>
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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>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">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>
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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>他们 工作 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen gōngzuò <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">They (already) work.</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他们 工作 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen gōngzuò <em>le</em>. </span><span class="trans">They (already) work. </span></li>
 
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<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>
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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">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>
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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>
 
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 要 不 要 告诉 他?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào bú yào gàosu tā ? </span><span class="trans">Are you going to 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 yào bú 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 zhīdao <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">He (already) knows.</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他 知道 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zhīdao <em>le</em>. </span><span class="trans">He (already) knows. </span></li>
 
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<div class="liju">
 
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 应该 先 问 老师。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ  yīnggāi xiān wèn lǎoshī. </span><span class="trans">You should first go ask the teacher.</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 应该 先 问 老师。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ  yīnggāi xiān wèn lǎoshī. </span><span class="trans">You should first 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>
 
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Revision as of 08:33, 12 November 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 工作 Tāmen gōngzuò le. They (already) work.
  • A: 用 我 的 车 吧?Yòng wǒ de chē 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 yào bú yào gàosu tā? Are you going to tell him?
  • B:他 知道 Tā zhīdao le. He (already) knows.
  • A:你 应该 先 问 老师。Nǐ yīnggāi xiān wèn lǎoshī. You should first go ask the teacher.
  • B:我 问 Wǒ wèn le. I (already) did.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites