Chinese Particle Le: How Does the Aspectual Particle 了 Actually Work?
Last updated: December 19, 2025
You hear it in every conversation, clinging to verbs and ending sentences: the mighty .😎 It is used in so many diverse situations that it can be confusing for Chinese learners as to when to use it and when not... It doesn’t just mean “past tense.” It can also be your tool for announcing, “Listen up, something has changed.” There are sentence patterns in which this particle must be included as well. Let’s demystify its main roles and the special patterns where it is indispensable.
Use 了 (le) after a verb to hint that an action is done in Mandarin
The first rule is simple! When 了 sits right after a verb, its primary job is to mark the completion of that specific action. Think of it as putting a period on the verb itself. It’s often translated as a simple past tense in English, but the core idea is finishing. The action is over, and that fact is now relevant.
Observe the change of meanings in these expressions:
“” means I eat fruit. Just like the English present tense, people usually don't say things like this directly in daily life. But, “” means I ate fruit — the eating is finished. This is crucial for reporting news or sequenced events.
This function of is so commonly used in Chinese grammar that you can find many examples to learn Chinese:
-
。
Yesterday I bought a book and then read for three hours. -
。
I ordered delivery. -
。
I stir-fried some vegetables.
A classic mistake is "。" for “I often went to the park as a kid”. In this case, you’d drop the because you’re describing a past habit, not a single completed event. More or less, this is your go-to for answering “What did you do?”
Apply particle 了 at the end of the sentence to indicate changes in Chinese grammar
Now, this is where the Mandarin Chinese particle gets really interesting. When it appears at the end of a sentence (without a verb), it’s not about finishing an action. It’s about signaling a change of state. It announces that a new situation is now in effect.
Linguists have a precise term for it: an aspect particle. This isn't just jargon — it's the key to understanding why behaves the way it does. In other words, doesn't care about when an event happened on a timeline. Instead, it focuses on the state of the action itself: whether it's viewed as a completed whole or as having caused a new situation.
- Basically, it’s the particle of “now” and the change:
。
The weather has become hot.
。
The rain has become heavier. - You can use it to state new facts:
。
I am twenty-five now.
。
That house is on fire now. - You use it to declare a start:
。
I’m heading out now.
。
I'm reading now. - It’s also the classic exclamation of sudden notice:
!
Your hair is so long now!
One sentence can have both uses of . “” uses the first to finish the action (eating) and the second to update the listener on your status (I’m now full, or the meal time is over).
Some special patterns that must include 了 in Mandarin Chinese
Okay, so we know the core jobs. But also operates in some key, non-negotiable structures. These aren't exceptions so much as logical applications of its “change” principle. If you're the kind of person who wants to sound genuinely fluent, you'll need these patterns in your toolkit.
- First, is mandatory after a verb in a sequence if something else follows. The structure “Verb 1 + + Object, / + Verb 2” shows one completed action leading to another.
。
I will go home as soon as I get off work. - Second, is used in “” (too…):
！
It’s too expensive!
Learn Chinese particles with Chinese videos you like!
There is no better place to learn particles than online Chinese videos! Most of the Chinese dramas and movies apply the usage of particles like precisely.
The good news is, Migaku app can help generate Chinese subtitles even when the video does not feature any. For example, Migaku app can generate subtitles for this cut from The Knockout with the English translation. You can also click the words or sentences to add them to your flashcard collections and review them later. It can help you learn to grasp the grammar of Mandarin particles.
- Switch on YouTube and search for Chinese videos with the app
- Click "Watch with Migaku", and the magic wand at the lower right corner to generate Chinese subtitles
- Click on the new words or sentences in each subtitle and generate flashcards!
FAQs
Detecting 了 in Chinese videos will be difficult at first...
The truth is, because only features one syllable and has a neutral tone, it may be difficult for Chinese beginners to detect it in the conversation at the start. So, instead of relying heavily on particles to understand the meanings, try to grasp other hints, such as the context, other tense words like , or the speakers' tones, to assist your understanding of each subtitle.
When you saw in the subtitles but did not catch it in the speaking, playback the video several times to find it. Gradually, you will get used to how native speakers pronounce it and prime your ear to the detection of this word!
If you consume media in Chinese, and you understand at least some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. Period.
Celebrate daily progress!