<!DOCTYPE html> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <meta name="generator" content= "HTML Tidy for HTML5 for Linux version 5.2.0" /> <title></title> </head> <body> <p>现在 (xiànzài) isn't the only way to express "now." You'll notice that in many common expressions, <a href="%E4%BA%86" title= "wikilink">了 (le)</a> is used in place of the word for "now."</p> <h2 id="structure">Structure</h2> <p>This pattern is actually the same as <a href= "change_of_state_with_"le"" title="wikilink">change of state with "le"</a>, 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.</p> <div class="jiegou"> <p>[New Situation] + 了</p> </div> <h2 id="examples">Examples</h2> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>知道 <em>了</em> 。<span class="expl">This is something I didn't know before now</span><span class="pinyin">Zhīdào <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">Got it. / I see.</span></li> <li>懂 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Dǒng <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">Now I understand.</span></li> <li>吃饭 <em>了</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Chīfàn <em>le</em>!</span><span class="trans">Time to eat!</span></li> <li>我 走 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zǒu <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm leaving now.</span></li> <li>他 来 <em>了</em> 。<span class="expl">This can also mean "He's here now." Be careful!</span> <span class="pinyin">Tā lái <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">He's coming over now. / He's on the way.</span></li> <li>上课 <em>了</em> ！ <span class="pinyin">Shàngkè <em>le</em>!</span> <span class="trans">Class begins now!</span></li> <li>我 去 睡觉 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ qù shuìjiào <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm going to bed now.</span></li> <li>快 点儿 ， 开会 <em>了</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Kuài diǎnr, kāihuì <em>le</em>!</span> <span class="trans">Hurry up, it's time for the meeting now!</span></li> <li>该 你 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Gāi nǐ <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">It's your turn now.</span></li> <li>电影 开始 <em>了</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Diànyǐng kāishǐ <em>le</em>!</span> <span class="trans">The movie is starting now!</span></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="see-also">See Also</h2> <ul> <li><a href="Change_of_state_with_"le"" title= "wikilink">Change of state with "le"</a></li> <li><a href="Uses_of_"le"" title="wikilink">Uses of "le"</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2> <h3 id="books">Books</h3> <ul> <li><a href="Basic_Patterns_of_Chinese_Grammar" title= "wikilink">Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar</a> (p. 68) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href="Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition" title= "wikilink">Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition</a> (pp. 126-9) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href="Mandarin_Chinese:_A_Functional_Reference_Grammar" title="wikilink">Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar</a> (pp. 238-99) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520066103?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520066103"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href= "New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_2_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC2)" title="wikilink">New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)</a> (pp. 217-8) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href= "New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_3_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC3)" title="wikilink">New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)</a> (pp. 64-5) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href="Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_2_(3rd_ed)" title= "wikilink">Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)</a> (p. 8) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href= "40_Lessons_for_Basic_Chinese_Course_(%E5%9F%BA%E7%A1%80%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD40%E8%AF%BE%E4%B8%8A%E5%86%8C%EF%BC%89" title="wikilink">40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册）</a> (p. 239)<a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20">→buy</a></li> </ul> <h3 id="websites">Websites</h3> <ul> <li>Chinesegrammar.info: <a href= "http://chinesegrammar.info/particles/le-grammar-summary/">Chinese le grammar summary (了)</a></li> </ul> <p><a href="Category:_A2_grammar_points" title="wikilink">Category: A2 grammar points</a></p> </body> </html>