了 it happened
6 phrasesHD
我吃了
ENI've eaten
HD
他走了
ENhe's left
HD
下雨了
ENit's started raining
HD
我买了两个
ENI bought two
HD
我看完了
ENI've finished reading it
HD
他来了吗？
ENhas he come?
了 it happened in Chinese: all 6 on one list
| Chinese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 我吃了 | wǒ chī le | I've eaten |
| 他走了 | tā zǒu le | he's left |
| 下雨了 | xià yǔ le | it's started raining |
| 我买了两个 | wǒ mǎi le liǎng ge | I bought two |
| 我看完了 | wǒ kàn wán le | I've finished reading it |
| 他来了吗？ | tā lái le ma? | has he come? |
了 is not a past tense - Chinese has none. It marks completion or a change of state, which is why 下雨了 means "it has started raining", about the present. Learn 了 as "something is now different" and most of its uses fall into place.