了

• 拼音: le
• 汉字拆解: 了 = simple character with no meaningful radical decomposition — a grammatical particle

含义

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.

例句

1. 我吃了三个苹果。
2. 天黑了。
3. 他去北京了。

用法指南

语境: grammar, everyday

语气: neutral

正确说法

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

错误说法

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

起源与历史

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

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal