现在 (xiànzài) isn't the only way to express "now." You'll notice that
in many common expressions, [了 (le)](了 "wikilink") is used in place of
the word for "now."

Structure
---------

This pattern is actually the same as [change of state with
"le"](change_of_state_with_"le" "wikilink"), 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"](Change_of_state_with_"le" "wikilink")
-   [Uses of "le"](Uses_of_"le" "wikilink")

Sources and further reading
---------------------------

### Books

-   [Basic Patterns of Chinese
    Grammar](Basic_Patterns_of_Chinese_Grammar "wikilink") (p. 68)
    [→buy](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)
-   [Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second
    Edition](Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition "wikilink") (pp.
    126-9)
    [→buy](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)
-   [Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference
    Grammar](Mandarin_Chinese:_A_Functional_Reference_Grammar "wikilink") (pp.
    238-99)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520066103?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520066103)
-   [New Practical Chinese Reader
    2 (新实用汉语课本2)](New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_2_(新实用汉语课本2) "wikilink") (pp.
    217-8)
    [→buy](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)
-   [New Practical Chinese Reader
    3 (新实用汉语课本3)](New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_3_(新实用汉语课本3) "wikilink") (pp.
    64-5)
    [→buy](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)
-   [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2
    (3rd ed)](Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_2_(3rd_ed) "wikilink") (p.
    8)
    [→buy](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)
-   [40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course
    (基础汉语40课上册）](40_Lessons_for_Basic_Chinese_Course_(基础汉语40课上册） "wikilink") (p.
    239)[→buy](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)

### Websites

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

[Category: A2 grammar points](Category:_A2_grammar_points "wikilink")