How to Use 了 (le) in Mandarin Chinese

Find how to improve your spoken Chinese using the 'Building Blocks Method': www.fluentinmandarin.com/conte...

[@seanspartan2023]

For 死了 "dead" we have something similar in English. Consider: "Are you serious?" "I'm dead serious." Here the word dead has a similar meaning

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

Yes, now you mention it, there is something like this in English.

[@bonbonpony]

@@FluentinMandarinDotCom There's a similar usage in Polish: "Śmiertelnie poważny" = "dead serious". Possibly from "śmiertelnie chory" = "deadly/terminally ill".

[@buimo9246]

You have a very deeply Chinese understanding, which helps you explain every things in a extreme clear way. Love all of your effort on the channel. You deserve more than 100 000 subscribersss!!

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

Thanks! Hope I get to 100,000 subscribers soon :-)

[@amirtv106]

"Wo xue le san nian zhongwen" The other Learn Chinese Now video I just watched gave the same example, but he structured it differently, but that probably doesn't matter. However, he specifically said if you are still learning Chinese then you need a final 'le' at the end of the sentence to express I have been learning versus I learned. "Zhongwen wo xue le san nian le" = I've been learning Chinese for three years.

[@pauloing1pauloing167]

Click here to start the video: 00:41 了 (le) is not "past" 01:12 了 (le) indicates a situation that has changed 01:51 examples of use (change of situation) 03:32 examples (action in present, past and future) 05:55 examples (completed actions in the past) 07:00 uses of 了 (le) with adjectives

[@Jeroeny]

I like the way this channel is going lately. And I love that you aren't lazy by just putting 个 everywhere. 座 is a new measure word I learned. Keep it up!

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

Thanks Jeroen, I'm going to have more videos like this coming very soon, and I'll be trying a few new things in the near future both on this channel and on my site, and I'll be looking for people's suggestions. I think this clear explanations of points in Chinese could be a good direction.

[@ZhangZhenru]

Jeroen actually you don't need to use correct measure words all the time. In China there are too many measure words and people usually just say 个 instead of the correct measure words. It's not correct but it's okay.

[@TheReadQueen]

Thanks so much hahah my teachers are always reminding us of using the correct measure words - it's soooo annoying hahah

[@sishuanna9679]

张田野 个is accepted in spoken Chinese but not in formal written Chinese . There is a huge gap between spoken and written Chinese ，so many foreigner learners who have passed HSK 5 or 6 still can't read newspapers or native novels .If someone want to learn Chinese seriously should learn the proper measure words .中国人即使在口语中倾向于使用"个"，但是中国的新闻，政府或者商业文件，各种小说等等，依然会使用正确的量词，不学正确的量词中文只能停留在口语或者网络社交平台的水准。中国人毕竟在学校接受过系统的量词教育，但是我见过太多的外国人，学了好多年中文，依然被新闻和小说中的各种量词卡住。例如 “一项指标，一期节目，一处角落，一丝风”等等，特别是小说里类似于“一处阴暗幽静的角落”这样的表达，都会被“处”这个词卡住，好多人听力会被“第一期节目”这样的表述卡住。

[@Li.Siyuan]

Brilliantly clear and concise. Thank you, Chris.

[@AdamHerscher]

Really enjoying the longer format Chris, and the community you’re starting to get going in the comments! Hope you keep going with these. If you ever decide to set up a Patreon, would be happy to support it.

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

Glad you're enjoying the videos Adam. The reaction to them has been pretty good so far. As for Patreon, I've thought about it, but for now I'd rather offer quality premium courses and resources on my site for people who want to take their learning a step further, and keep all the videos on KZbin free for everybody :-)

[@marin4311]

You go in deep to the subject. Very useful for a full understanding.

[@TheReadQueen]

Thanks Chris!! You're literally helping me out for my upcoming exam!! Just found your channel and subscribed to it - you're able to explain 了 waaaay better than my teachers can!

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

You're welcome, and thanks for subscribing!

[@user-wq2wj2ph8m]

You teach very clear! 太好了

[@dankhnw8]

I heard so many of these phrases in the shows 😂 thanks for explaining what was hearing all along, and obviously for clearing up everything! (or at least most)

[@victory4892]

I enjoy watching your video clips and look forward to watch more interesting video clips from you. It is very grateful if you could explain how to use the words “如果” and “要是”. Because these words have the same meaning “ if” Thank you very much and look forward to hearing your positive feedback.

[@nermineagayeva6496]

Thanks,Chris.👍👍👍

[@huei-jiuanchen-jaros3223]

Nice work, Chris. You did a good job explaining a fairly complicated character! I just wanted to add that "adjective + 死 + 了", such as 我饿死了 is similar to the English expression of "I am starving to death!" to show the exaggeration of a situation.

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

Thanks, and that's a good way of putting it.

[@BilalAhmed-lr6mp]

or 我要饿死了

[@carloschess2010]

Very good explanation!!! THANKS A LOT!!!

[@Conversationswithtony]

Thank you!

[@chanelhati4241]

you are awesome thankyou so much this really helped me understand le and its uses

[@wen1964]

Thanks for all!! You are awesome!!!

[@roseymarygillespie5046]

Thank you for your lesson

[@Ab-ox7mo]

dont stop chris love these

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

Ok more coming soon!

[@aliakhlaghi2541]

Thank you. That was perfect. Could you please do a video on action, process and state verbs.

[@j.h.7942]

Keep it up! Your videos are very Helpful, thank you so much.

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

You're welcome. Glad you find them useful!

[@mountaintag]

I think that 了 at the end of the sentence indicates a change only if the sentence is in the negative. For example: 天气不热了 means "the weather is not hot anymore". (It has changed.) However, 天气很热了 simply means that the weather is currently hot. (Perhaps it has always been hot.)

[@saidbouihlougat2756]

太好了

[@shanguan6632]

Nice video! plus I love your voice!

[@pujasingh146]

谢谢老师。你的录像很好。

[@nicoleraheem1195]

Your accent is great dude.

[@teresakikiyaya]

你教的太好了！

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

谢谢！

[@lp4969]

得

[@bantuvoicemuchaikinuthia2536]

你教太 非常好了。。...How do I emphasize correctly...😀😀👊

[@jangelbrich7056]

Excellent explanations! I am a beginner in Chinese (fluent in Japanese, though, so I can get the characters soon), and I find Your explanations very essential. I will watch more on this channel for sure

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

Thanks, and feel free to check out my other videos :-)

[@thantunaung9533]

Very useful for learner.

[@gregs4247]

Very helpful thank you.

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

You're welcome Greg!

[@nicoleraheem1195]

I started studying on my own about four days ago I went from knowing only hello to knowing a few phrases, numbers, pronunciation is nearly exceptional and how to read a few characters . I want to ask a question. Would you recommend beginner students becoming aware of hanzi, pinyin, listening AND English translation orrrrrrrrrr Should one just focus on listening, pronunciation and pinyin for like 6 months and then learn how to write? I've been completely immersing myself in these studies. I don't know If I'm doing too much too soon, but I was inspired to learn so I want to milk this for all it's worth.

[@supahjadi8944]

To put it simply, le is for actions that have been, will be, or are complete.

[@laithmiry3933]

thanks bro this is video help me soo much. You the best

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

You're welcome

[@Jbytzz]

Particularly with the “that’s the situation now” like 下雨了 thanks is for clearing that up

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

Glad it makes sense now!

[@TheAndyLP24]

I really enjoy the long videos and the kind of in depth analyses of Chinese grammar. If you are looking for suggestions for future videos, how about verb complements? I find them really hard to get my head around...

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

Yeah that's a good idea, I'll definitely do a video on verb complements soon!

[@TheAndyLP24]

+Fluent in Mandarin.com one question left from the video concerning the "wo xue le san nian zhong wen" phrase. If "le" implies a completet or change of action, wouldn't that sentence mean, that they actually stopped learning Chinese (and making "I was learning Chinese for three years" the better translation? (I'm not a native English speaker, so I pay a bit more attention to those "minor" things, like aspect here, as well in English, usually more than natives as I've noticed)).

[@tarunjain123able]

wow so many uses

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

Yes there are a few

[@couldnotagreemore]

perfect

[@jaijawansingh1855]

I like

[@samyeoski]

Is it the same to say "wo zuotian qu le shanghai" as it is "wo zuotian qu shanghai le"?? I have seen le used in both (Subject + verb + le + object) and (Subject + verb + object + le) before. Bit of confusion for me! Thanks

[@cambodia7919]

Woah...finally i found what i've been wonder since long ago. thank for this best video. i alway ask my teacher about this, but he just ignor me.

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

Glad this video helped to clarify things for you :-)

[@Jeroeny]

BTW how do you say something is 'so much fun' with the 死 structure? Maybe 玩儿死了 or 好玩死了? Thank you!

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

Yes, that's right, both of those work

[@rabindrakunwar31]

Very good explanation. 1. I have been studying in the unviersity for 3 years. 你在这个大学学了多常时间了? 你在这个大学学了对常时间? 我学了大学三年了。 我学了大学三年。 I have watched more than 50 videos about pinyin pronounciation and tones, All are different for me, It just made me more confused. Could you suggest me some best material for the pronounciation and tones please? Thanks What is different between this 4 sentences

[@nstrisower]

Great videos! I have a question. At 6:49, you have the sentence “你昨天去哪里了？”, but I am confused about the placement of 了 there. Why is it after the location and not right after the verb 去?

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

You know what? I'm not sure about this one. Perhaps somebody else here could answer?

[@user-zi7td2hd8r]

The boundaries between words and phrases are not clear, in Chinese. A high frequency phrase can be thought of as a word. “你昨天去了哪里？”，“去” is a verb. “你昨天去哪里了？”,"去哪里" is a verb.Both are OK.The same thing happens between a character and a word. “看得见”，“看”is a verb。“看见了”，“看见”is a verb。Boundary ambiguity is also the reason why there is no space in Chinese.

[@LesHenderson]

Try to avoid cutting off the text with your corner video if you can. Great tutorials.

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

Thanks Les, I'll try not to let that little corner video get in the way in future!

[@bonbonpony]

04:15 What's the difference between 学 and 学习 ? 05:22 I've seen this character 以 appearing in several words, like 以后 (after), but also 可以 (can) and 所以 (so), and in 除了…以外 (apart from/in addition to). What does this character mean and what is the connection between all those example words? 09:36 So 想 doesn't mean "want", but "miss"? I'm confused :\

[@amekanasai]

04:15 What's the difference between 学 and 学习 ? == take 学 as learn and 学习 as a more formal version of 学 and also to study 05:22 I've seen this character 以 appearing in several words, like 以后 (after), but also 可以 (can) and 所以 (so), and in 除了…以外 (apart from/in addition to). What does this character mean and what is the connection between all those example words? == 以 by itself means something like "to take something as something"....we only use it in set expression like 以牙还牙 an eye for an eye, etc 09:36 So 想 doesn't mean "want", but "miss"? I'm confused :\ == 想 can mean to think, to want and to miss depending on the context 我在想 = I'm thinking.... 我想吃/我想要吃 = I want to eat.... 我想你/我想念你= I miss you

[@JimOverbeckgenius]

wo leng si le > as in dead cold

[@misseinstein659]

How long have you been in China??? Meen your Chinese is soo on point

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

More than 5 years

[@misseinstein659]

I know people who have stayed for 10 years but Chinese still bu hao😁😁

[@BilalAhmed-lr6mp]

its going to rain today. the translation of this will have 了. for some thing going to happen the structure is 要(yao).... 了(le) 今天要下雨了。jintian yao xia yu le. thats one more use that i learned from a friend

[@JomaCamera]

"你昨天去哪里了" Why is the 了 not after the verb in this case?

[@miguel8571]

Johan Malvik 你昨天去了哪里 is also correct

[@meinchina666]

我看到了。

[@dankhnw8]

6:50 why did 了 appear after 哪里 and not after 去 the actual verb?

[@7212372frank]

SoHardToBeMe it works both ways.

[@petrokemp1567]

I have a question.... I have noticed some Chinese sentences have le directly after the verb and sometimes at the end of a sentence.... Why is that? How do they differ? Can you use two 'le' particles in one sentence? Please help!!!!!

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

Yes you can have two in the same sentence sometimes, especially when the action is still continuing

[@petrokemp1567]

@@FluentinMandarinDotCom Thanks for your quick response

[@AusReddit]

I’ve always known how to use it but could never fully explain what it meant to foreigners. Well...I guess I’m a foreigner too XD

[@abuelshiekh1308]

来不及了,算了吧 哈哈 我开玩笑了 谢谢Chris

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

不用谢！

[@wenshengzhu862]

Hi, “我毕业了以后，想当老师。” In fact, we don't use"了“in this sentence.

[@danielribeiro2869]

Tai Hao Le

[@chengyanslc]

你的视频真是不得了（liao）了（le）！

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

哈哈

[@unclebob1507]

你没注意“了”这个字有时候在句子里可以用两次。。。

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

yes

[@yitzuchang3299]

快/快要/要/就/就要 V. 了

[@ngozieze6576]

Xie Xie

[@FluentinMandarinDotCom]

You're welcome!

[@PacisEritVobiscum]

my namesake...you dey learn chinese to abi. lol. igbo kwenu

[@Correctrix]

Your first tones are too low.