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了 (change of state)

HSK 1
  • Aspect

Structure (结构 jiégòu)

Subject(Adverb)Adjective/Verb了

Meaning (意思 yìsi)

The sentence-final particle 了 signals that a new situation has arisen or a change of state has occurred.

Explanation (解释 jiěshì)

Unlike 了 placed after a verb to indicate a completed action, 了 at the end of a sentence expresses a change or a new situation that has arisen. It implies that things are now different from before.

For example, 下雨了 (it's raining now) means "it wasn't raining before, but now it is." Similarly, 我没钱了 (I've run out of money) means "I had money before, but now I don't."

Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)

  1. 下雨了。
    Xià yǔ le.

    It's raining.

  2. 我累了。
    Wǒ lèi le.

    I'm tired.

  3. 他长高了。
    繁: 他長高了。Tā zhǎng gāo le.

    He has grown taller.

  4. 我不想去了。
    Wǒ bù xiǎng qù le.

    I don't want to go anymore.

  5. 春天来了。
    繁: 春天來了。Chūntiān lái le.

    Spring has arrived.