了

• Pinyin: le
• Hanzi breakdown: 了 = simple character with no meaningful radical decomposition — a grammatical particle

Meaning

Aspect particle indicating completion or change of state. One of the most important grammar particles in Chinese.

Has two main functions: (1) verb suffix 了 marks completed action (我吃了饭 = I ate); (2) sentence-final 了 indicates a change of state or new situation (下雨了 = it started raining). Mastering 了 is essential for expressing tense and aspect in Chinese.

Examples

1. 我吃了三个苹果。 I ate three apples.
2. 天黑了。 It's gotten dark.
3. 他去北京了。 He went to Beijing.

Usage Guide

Context: grammar, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我买了一本书。(I bought a book.)
• 春天来了。(Spring has come.)

Don't Say

• 我每天吃了早饭。(Don't use 了 for habitual actions — say 我每天吃早饭)

Origin & History

Originally a separate word meaning 'to finish' or 'to conclude.' Over time it grammaticalised into a particle marking completion and change of state.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal