{{Grammar Box}} 

现在 (xiànzài) isn't the only way to express "now."  You'll notice that in many common expressions, [[了|了 (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">

* 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>
* 懂 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Dǒng <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">Now I understand.</span>
* 吃饭 <em>了</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Chīfàn <em>le</em>!</span><span class="trans">Time to eat!</span>
* 我 走 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zǒu <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm leaving now.</span>
* 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>
* 上课 <em>了</em> ！ <span class="pinyin">Shàngkè <em>le</em>! </span><span class="trans">Class begins now! </span>
* 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>
* 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>
* 该 你 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Gāi nǐ <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">It's your turn now.</span>
* 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>

</div>

== See Also ==

* [[Change of state with "le"]]
* [[Uses of "le"]]

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Books ===

* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (p. 68) [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]
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 126-9) [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]
* [[Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar]] (pp. 238-99) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520066103?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520066103 →buy] 
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)]] (pp. 217-8) [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]
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (pp. 64-5) [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]
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (p. 8) [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]
*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册）]] (p. 239)[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]

=== Websites ===

* Chinesegrammar.info: [http://chinesegrammar.info/particles/le-grammar-summary/ Chinese le grammar summary (了)]

{{Basic Grammar|了|A2|⋯⋯了|吃饭 <em>了</em>！|grammar point|ASGE5Q4J}}
[[Category: A2 grammar points]]
{{Used for|Referring to changes of situation}}
{{Similar|Uses of "le"}}
{{POS|Particles}}