Difference between revisions of "Expressing "now" with "le""

Line 1: Line 1:
== Expressing "Now" ==
+
{{Grammar Box}}
  
The word "now" doesn't always need to be translated as 现在.  You'll notice that in many common expressions, 了 is used in place of the explicit word for "now."
+
The word "now" doesn't always need to be translated as 现在 (xiànzài).  You'll notice that in many common expressions, [[]] (le) is used in place of the word for "now."
 +
 
 +
== Structure ==
 +
 
 +
This pattern is actually the same as [[change of state with "le"]], but the examples below are somewhat idiomatic and can also easily be confused with a direct translation of "now" in Chinese, so they get special treatment here.
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
[New Situation] + 了
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 吃饭 <em>了</em>! <span class="expl">"Time to eat!"</span>
+
* 吃饭 <em>了</em>! <span class="trans">Time to eat!</span>
* 我 来 <em>了</em>。 <span class="expl">"I'm coming over now. / I'm on the way"</span>
+
* 我 走 <em>了</em>。 <span class="trans">I'm leaving now.</span>
* 我 知道 <em>了</em>。 <span class="expl">"I get it now. / I see now. / Now I know. (I didn't before)"</span>
+
* 我 来 <em>了</em>。 <span class="expl">(This can also mean "I'm here now." Be careful!</span><span class="trans">I'm coming over now. / I'm on the way.</span>
* 现在 我 明白<em>了</em>。
+
* 我 知道 <em>了</em>。 <span class="trans">"I get it now. / I see now. / Now I know. (I didn't before)"</span>
* 走了,不要 吃<em></em>
+
* 现在 我 明白<em>了</em>。 <span class="trans">Now I understand.</span>
* 我 想 你 <em>了</em>!
+
* 我 想 你 <em>了</em>! <span class="trans">I miss you now!</span>
* 我 去 睡觉 <em>了</em>。
+
* 我 去 睡觉 <em>了</em>。 <span class="trans">I'm going to bed now.</span>
* 快 点 儿,开会 <em>了</em>!
+
* 快 点儿,开会 <em>了</em>! <span class="trans">Hurry up, it's time for the meeting now!</span>
* 该 你 <em>了</em>。
+
* 该 你 <em>了</em>。 <span class="trans">It's your turn now.</span>
* 我 走 <em></em>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
Line 20: Line 31:
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
  
 +
* [[Change of state with "le"]]
 
* [[Uses of "le"]]
 
* [[Uses of "le"]]
  

Revision as of 07:54, 20 February 2014

Chinese-grammar-wiki-le.jpg

The word "now" doesn't always need to be translated as 现在 (xiànzài). You'll notice that in many common expressions, (le) is used in place of the word for "now."

Structure

This pattern is actually the same as change of state with "le", but the examples below are somewhat idiomatic and can also easily be confused with a direct translation of "now" in Chinese, so they get special treatment here.

[New Situation] + 了

Examples

  • 吃饭 Time to eat!
  • 我 走 I'm leaving now.
  • 我 来 (This can also mean "I'm here now." Be careful!I'm coming over now. / I'm on the way.
  • 我 知道 "I get it now. / I see now. / Now I know. (I didn't before)"
  • 现在 我 明白Now I understand.
  • 我 想 你 I miss you now!
  • 我 去 睡觉 I'm going to bed now.
  • 快 点儿,开会 Hurry up, it's time for the meeting now!
  • 该 你 It's your turn now.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites