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了 (le): completed actions and changes

了 after a verb marks it as done (我吃了 "I ate"). 了 at the end can mark a new situation (下雨了 "it is raining now").

了 is not a past tense. It shows that an action is completed, or that something has changed.

Verb + 了 + object: 我买了一本书 "I bought a book".

At the end of a sentence 了 announces a change: 我饿了 "I am hungry now". Negated actions use 没 without 了.

Pattern: Verb + 了 / sentence + 了

Practice this lesson

Updated October 21, 2026

Examples

• 他走了。 Tā zǒu le.
  He has left.
• 我喝了两杯咖啡。 Wǒ hē le liǎng bēi kāfēi.
  I drank two cups of coffee.

In real sentences

• 响了。
  It rang.
  Tatoeba: fucongcong
• 死了?
  Are you dead?
  Tatoeba: zhouj1955
• 算了。
  Forget it.
  Tatoeba: GlossaMatik
• 疯了！
  Crazy!
  Tatoeba: yujianing
• 够了。
  That's enough.
  Tatoeba: U2FS
• 行了。
  That's enough.
  Tatoeba: U2FS

Before this lesson

This unlocks after: HSK 1 Core words 1, The four tones.

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