Chinese Learning Platform

Completion aspect

particle (completion)

我 (wǒ) I 吃饭 (chī fàn) eat meal 了 (le) 。 I've eaten.

他 (tā) he 走 (zǒu) leave 了 (le) 。 He has left.

她 (tā) 看完 (kàn wán) finish reading 书 (shū) book 了 (le) 。 She has finished reading the book.

Change of state

particle (change of state)

天 (tiān) sky 晴 (qíng) clear 了 (le) 。 The weather has cleared up.

我 (wǒ) I 明白 (míng bái) understand 了 (le) 。 I see.

灯 (dēng) light 亮 (liàng) bright 了 (le) 。 The light is on.

好 (hǎo) 了 (le)

all right/finished

作业 (zuò yè) homework 做好 (zuò hǎo) complete 了 (le) 。 The homework is done.

吃 (chī) 了 (le)

ate

我 (wǒ) I 吃 (chī) eat 了 (le) 早饭 (zǎo fàn) breakfast 。 I've had breakfast.

了解 (liǎo jiě)

to understand

我 (wǒ) I 了解 (liǎo jiě) understand 这 (zhè) this 件 (jiàn) item 事 (shì) matter 了 (le) 。 I understand this matter now.

不了了之 (bù liǎo liǎo zhī)

to let something be left unsettled

Level: intermediate

这 (zhè) this 件 (jiàn) item 事 (shì) matter 最后 (zuì hòu) finally 不了了之 (bù liǎo liǎo zhī) drop 。 This matter ended up in nothing in the end.

一目了然 (yī mù liǎo rán)

clear at a glance

Level: intermediate

结果 (jié guǒ) 一目了然 (yī mù liǎo rán) clear 。 The result is clear.

not applicable to '了'

我 (wǒ) I 写 (xiě) write 完 (wán) finish 作业 (zuò yè) homework 了 (le) 。 I've finished my homework.

电影 (diàn yǐng) movie 结束 (jié shù) end 了 (le) 。 The movie is over.

他 (tā) he 睡 (shuì) sleep 着 (zhe) 了 (le) 。 He has fallen asleep.

车门 (chē mén) car door 关上 (guān shàng) close 了 (le) 。 The car door is closed.

问题 (wèn tí) problem 解决 (jiě jué) solve 了 (le) 。 The problem is solved.