Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The particle {了|le} marks that an action is completed or a change of state has occurred.
- Place {了|le} immediately after the verb to show completion: {我|wǒ}{吃|chī}{了|le}{饭|fàn} (I ate).
- Use {了|le} at the end of a sentence to indicate a change of state: {下|xià}{雨|yǔ}{了|le} (It started raining).
- Do not use {了|le} for habitual actions or states, only for specific completed events.
Overview
- 1주어 + 동사 + 了 + (수사 + 양사 + 목적어)
- 我买了一本书。 (나는 책 한 권을 샀다.)
- 수량이 있는 동작: 我喝了两杯咖啡。 (커피 두 잔을 마셨다.)
- 습관: '예전에 자주 갔다'에는 사용하지 마세요.
- 부정: 절대 没...了라고 하지 마세요. 그냥 没만 쓰세요.
- 了 대 过: 了는 특정 사건의 완료, 过는 경험(해본 적 있다)을 나타냅니다.
Formation of Completed Action
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subject + Verb + 了 + Object
|
{我|wǒ}{吃|chī}{了|le}{面|miàn}
|
|
Negative
|
Subject + 没(有) + Verb + Object
|
{我|wǒ}{没|méi}{吃|chī}{面|miàn}
|
|
Question
|
Subject + Verb + 了 + 吗?
|
{你|nǐ}{吃|chī}{了|le}{吗|ma}?
|
|
Change of State
|
Sentence + 了
|
{下|xià}{雨|yǔ}{了|le}
|
|
Duration
|
Verb + 了 + Time Duration
|
{我|wǒ}{睡|shuì}{了|le}{两|liǎng}{小|xiǎo}{时|shí}
|
|
Result
|
Verb + Result + 了
|
{我|wǒ}{做|zuò}{完|wán}{了|le}
|
Meanings
The particle {了|le} indicates that an action has been completed or that a new situation has come into existence.
Action Completion
Signals that a specific action has finished.
“{他|tā}{喝|hē}{了|le}{咖|kā}{啡|fēi}”
“{我|wǒ}{看|kàn}{了|le}{电|diàn}{影|yǐng}”
Change of State
Signals that the current situation is different from before.
“{天|tiān}{黑|hēi}{了|le}”
“{他|tā}{不|bù}{想|xiǎng}{去|qù}{了|le}”
Reference Table
| 패턴 | 구조 | 예시 |
|---|---|---|
|
기본 동작 완료
|
동사 + {了} + 수량 목적어
|
{吃了一个苹果}
|
|
지속 시간 완료
|
동사 + {了} + 시간의 양
|
{学了一년}
|
|
미래의 순서
|
동사1 + {了} ... 동사2
|
{到了给我打电话}
|
|
틀린 부정문
|
동사 + {没} + {了}
|
❌ (절대 이렇게 쓰지 마세요)
|
|
옳은 부정문
|
{没} + 동사
|
{没吃苹果}
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
{我|wǒ}{已|yǐ}{完|wán}{成|chéng}{了|le}{工|gōng}{作|zuò} (Work completion)
{我|wǒ}{做|zuò}{完|wán}{了|le}{工|gōng}{作|zuò} (Work completion)
{我|wǒ}{做|zuò}{完|wán}{了|le} (Work completion)
{搞|gǎo}{定|dìng}{了|le} (Work completion)
{了} 완료 체크박스
이럴 때 쓰세요...
- 구체적인 수량 커피 1잔, 책 2권
- 끝난 단계 동작 A 완료 -> 동작 B 시작
이럴 땐 안 돼요...
- 반복되는 습관 매일, 자주
- 부정문 {没}과 함께 쓸 때
했다 vs 안 했다
{了}를 붙여야 할까요?
동작이 일어났나요?
습관이나 반복되는 일인가요?
구체적인 수량이 있나요?
{了}가 자주 쓰이는 상황
먹고 마실 때
- • {吃了}
- • {喝了}
이동할 때
- • {去了}
- • {到了}
물건 살 때
- • {买了}
- • {卖了}
수준별 예문
{我|wǒ}{喝|hē}{了|le}{水|shuǐ}
I drank water.
{他|tā}{买|mǎi}{了|le}{苹|píng}{果|guǒ}
He bought an apple.
{我|wǒ}{看|kàn}{了|le}{书|shū}
I read a book.
{下|xià}{雨|yǔ}{了|le}
It started to rain.
{你|nǐ}{吃|chī}{了|le}{吗|ma}?
Have you eaten?
{我|wǒ}{没|méi}{去|qù}{学|xué}{校|xiào}
I didn't go to school.
{他|tā}{不|bù}{想|xiǎng}{去|qù}{了|le}
He doesn't want to go anymore.
{我|wǒ}{做|zuò}{了|le}{三|sān}{个|gè}{菜|cài}
I made three dishes.
{我|wǒ}{把|bǎ}{作|zuò}{业|yè}{写|xiě}{完|wán}{了|le}
I finished writing the homework.
{他|tā}{已|yǐ}{经|jīng}{走|zǒu}{了|le}
He has already left.
{这|zhè}{个|gè}{电|diàn}{影|yǐng}{我|wǒ}{看|kàn}{过|guò}{了|le}
I have seen this movie (already).
{天|tiān}{气|qì}{变|biàn}{冷|lěng}{了|le}
The weather has turned cold.
{等|děng}{我|wǒ}{忙|máng}{完|wán}{了|le}{手|shǒu}{头|tóu}{的|de}{事|shì}{就|jiù}{去|qù}
I'll go once I finish what I'm doing.
{他|tā}{在|zài}{公|gōng}{司|sī}{工|gōng}{作|zuò}{了|le}{五|wǔ}{年|nián}{了|le}
He has been working at the company for five years.
{我|wǒ}{本|běn}{来|lái}{想|xiǎng}{去|qù}{的|de}{，但|dàn}{是|shì}{太|tài}{累|lèi}{了|le}
I originally wanted to go, but I'm too tired now.
{他|tā}{把|bǎ}{钱|qián}{都|dōu}{花|huā}{光|guāng}{了|le}
He spent all the money.
{这|zhè}{项|xiàng}{研|yán}{究|jiū}{已|yǐ}{经|jīng}{完|wán}{成|chéng}{了|le}{初|chū}{步|bù}{阶|jiē}{段|duàn}
This research has completed the preliminary stage.
{不|bù}{管|guǎn}{你|nǐ}{说|shuō}{什|shén}{么|me}{，我|wǒ}{都|dōu}{决|jué}{定|dìng}{了|le}
No matter what you say, I have made up my mind.
{他|tā}{在|zài}{这|zhè}{里|lǐ}{居|jū}{住|zhù}{了|le}{很|hěn}{久|jiǔ}{了|le}
He has lived here for a long time.
{这|zhè}{件|jiàn}{事|shì}{我|wǒ}{早|zǎo}{就|jiù}{知|zhī}{道|dào}{了|le}
I have known about this for a long time.
{他|tā}{那|nà}{副|fù}{神|shén}{情|qíng}{，仿|fǎng}{佛|fú}{已|yǐ}{经|jīng}{看|kàn}{透|tòu}{了|le}{世|shì}{间|jiān}{万|wàn}{物|wù}
His expression seemed as if he had already seen through all things in the world.
{经|jīng}{过|guò}{多|duō}{年|nián}{的|de}{努|nǔ}{力|lì}{，他|tā}{终|zhōng}{于|yú}{实|shí}{现|xiàn}{了|le}{梦|mèng}{想|xiǎng}
After many years of effort, he finally realized his dream.
{这|zhè}{种|zhǒng}{现|xiàn}{象|xiàng}{在|zài}{当|dāng}{今|jīn}{社|shè}{会|huì}{已|yǐ}{经|jīng}{见|jiàn}{怪|guài}{不|bù}{怪|guài}{了|le}
This phenomenon is already common in today's society.
{他|tā}{那|nà}{句|jù}{话|huà}{，让|ràng}{我|wǒ}{彻|chè}{底|dǐ}{死|sǐ}{心|xīn}{了|le}
That sentence of his made me give up hope completely.
혼동하기 쉬운
Both relate to the past, but {了|le} is for completion, {过|guò} is for experience.
Both imply finishing, but {完|wán} is a resultative complement.
Learners use {不|bù} for past actions.
자주 하는 실수
{我|wǒ}{每|měi}{天|tiān}{吃|chī}{了|le}{饭|fàn}
{我|wǒ}{每|měi}{天|tiān}{吃|chī}{饭|fàn}
{我|wǒ}{没|méi}{吃|chī}{了|le}{饭|fàn}
{我|wǒ}{没|méi}{吃|chī}{饭|fàn}
{我|wǒ}{了|le}{吃|chī}{饭|fàn}
{我|wǒ}{吃|chī}{了|le}{饭|fàn}
{他|tā}{是|shì}{去|qù}{了|le}{北|běi}{京|jīng}
{他|tā}{去|qù}{了|le}{北|běi}{京|jīng}
{我|wǒ}{想|xiǎng}{了|le}{去|qù}{旅|lǚ}{游|yóu}
{我|wǒ}{想|xiǎng}{去|qù}{旅|lǚ}{游|yóu}
{他|tā}{很|hěn}{高|gāo}{兴|xìng}{了|le}
{他|tā}{高|gāo}{兴|xìng}{了|le}
{我|wǒ}{看|kàn}{了|le}{电|diàn}{影|yǐng}{三|sān}{个|gè}{小|xiǎo}{时|shí}
{我|wǒ}{看|kàn}{了|le}{三|sān}{个|gè}{小|xiǎo}{时|shí}{电|diàn}{影|yǐng}
{我|wǒ}{去|qù}{了|le}{过|guò}{北|běi}{京|jīng}
{我|wǒ}{去|qù}{过|guò}{北|běi}{京|jīng}
{他|tā}{已|yǐ}{经|jīng}{吃|chī}{了|le}{饭|fàn}{了|le}
{他|tā}{已|yǐ}{经|jīng}{吃|chī}{了|le}{饭|fàn}
{我|wǒ}{明|míng}{天|tiān}{吃|chī}{了|le}{饭|fàn}{就|jiù}{去}
{我|wǒ}{明|míng}{天|tiān}{吃|chī}{完|wán}{饭|fàn}{就|jiù}{去}
{他|tā}{在|zài}{这|zhè}{里|lǐ}{住|zhù}{了|le}{很|hěn}{久|jiǔ}
{他|tā}{在|zài}{这|zhè}{里|lǐ}{住|zhù}{了|le}{很|hěn}{久|jiǔ}{了|le}
{我|wǒ}{没|méi}{有|yǒu}{看|kàn}{了|le}{那|nà}{本|běn}{书|shū}
{我|wǒ}{没|méi}{有|yǒu}{看|kàn}{那|nà}{本|běn}{书|shū}
{我|wǒ}{把|bǎ}{门|mén}{关|guān}{了|le}{一|yī}{下|xià}
{我|wǒ}{把|bǎ}{门|mén}{关|guān}{了|le}
{他|tā}{死|sǐ}{了|le}{三|sān}{天|tiān}{了|le}
{他|tā}{死|sǐ}{了|le}{三|sān}{天|tiān}
문장 패턴
我 ___ 了。
你 ___ 了吗？
我没 ___ 。
___ 了，我们走吧。
Real World Usage
{我|wǒ}{到|dào}{了|le}
{我|wǒ}{点|diǎn}{了|le}{面|miàn}
{我|wǒ}{做|zuò}{了|le}{三|sān}{年|nián}
{我|wǒ}{买|mǎi}{了|le}{票|piào}
{我|wǒ}{毕|bì}{业|yè}{了|le}
{已|yǐ}{送|sòng}{达|dá}
부정형의 함정
수량사가 나오면 {了}!
중국식 인사법
Smart Tips
Use {了|le} after each completed step.
Add {了|le} at the end of the sentence.
Use {过|guò} instead of {了|le}.
Use {没|méi} and drop {了|le}.
발음
Neutral Tone
{了|le} is almost always pronounced in the neutral tone (no tone mark).
Falling
下雨了↓
Finality and statement of fact.
암기하기
기억법
Think of {了|le} as a 'Done' stamp. Every time you finish a task, imagine stamping it with a big red {了|le}.
시각적 연상
Imagine a light switch. When you flip it, the room changes from dark to light. That 'click' is the sound of {了|le} marking the change.
Rhyme
Verb plus le, action is done; Change of state, le is the one.
Story
Yesterday, I went to the store. I bought bread. I ate the bread. I felt full. In Chinese, I add {了|le} to each of these completed actions to show they are finished.
Word Web
챌린지
Write 5 sentences about what you did this morning using {了|le}.
문화 노트
Used constantly in daily speech to track life events.
Similar usage, but sometimes uses '啦' for emphasis.
Mandarin speakers in HK often use {了|le} similarly to standard Mandarin.
The particle {了|le} evolved from the verb {了|liǎo}, meaning 'to finish' or 'to settle'.
대화 시작하기
你今天做了什么？
你吃饭了吗？
你以前去过哪儿？
你为什么决定学习中文？
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
Score: /3
연습 문제
8 exercises我昨天买___一本书。
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
我每天吃了苹果。
了 / 我 / 电影 / 看
I drank water.
下雨了 vs 下雨
Use '买' and '了'.
我吃了饭 -> ?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
11 exercisesScore: /11
자주 묻는 질문 (8)
Generally no. {了|le} marks completion, which is usually past or present.
One might be after the verb (completion) and one at the end (change of state).
No, it's aspect, not tense. It marks the 'done' status.
Not always, but it's very common to show the action is finished.
People will still understand you, but you might sound like you are stating a fact rather than a specific event.
Rarely. 'Shi' is a stative verb.
If it's at the end of the sentence and describes a new situation.
Not rude, just less natural.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Pretérito Perfecto
Spanish conjugates the verb; Chinese uses an invariant particle.
Passé Composé
French changes the auxiliary based on the verb; Chinese does not.
Perfekt
German syntax is more complex with separable prefixes; Chinese is more linear.
Ta-form
Japanese '-ta' is a suffix; Chinese 'le' is a separate particle.
Qad + Past
Arabic 'qad' is optional; Chinese 'le' is often required for completion.
Perfective Aspect
Dialects like Cantonese use different particles like 'zo' instead of 'le'.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Continue With
관련 동영상
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