Aspect Markers 了 / 过 / 着
Mandarin Chinese uses aspect markers like le 了, guo 过 and zhe 着 to show how an action relates to time, and they each serve different functions. This guide goes over when to use each marker with clear examples.
了 了 marks a completed action or a change of state, and it appears either after a verb for verbal aspect or at the end of a sentence for result or emphasis. Think of le 了 as signaling that something has happened.
Verbal 了
Verbal le 了 attaches directly after the verb to show the action was completed. It works well for recounting specific events or finished tasks.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| ✉️ 我给他发了邮件。 | Wǒ gěi tā fā le yóujiàn. | I sent him an email. |
| ☕ 我喝了杯咖啡。 | Wǒ hē le bēi kāfēi. | I drank a cup of coffee. |
| 📂 工作做了三份报告。 | Gōngzuò zuò le sān fèn bàogào. | I completed three reports. |
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Sentence-Final 了
Sentence-final le 了 emphasizes a change or confirms completion and often appears after the object or at the end of the sentence. It can signal that a new situation now holds.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 🌧️ 天开始下雨了。 | Tiān kāishǐ xiàyǔ le. | It started to rain. |
| 🕒 会议快要开始了。 | Huìyì kuàiyào kāishǐ le. | The meeting is about to start. |
| 🏢 公司搬到新址了。 | Gōngsī bān dào xīn zhǐ le. | The company moved to a new location. |
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过 过 marks an experiential action that someone has done at least once, and it highlights whether someone has had the experience rather than focusing on when it happened. Use guo 过 to talk about life experiences.
Usage
Place guo 过 after the verb to indicate having tried or done something in the past at an unspecified time. It is common in sentences about experiences and recommendations.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| ✈️ 我去过上海。 | Wǒ qù guo Shànghǎi. | I have been to Shanghai. |
| 🍣 他吃过日本菜。 | Tā chī guo Rìběn cài. | He has tried Japanese food. |
| 🎤 我参加过很多次会议。 | Wǒ cānjiā guo hěn duō cì huìyì. | I have attended many meetings. |
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Negative Sentences
To say someone has never had an experience, place 不曾 or 从来没 before the verb and do not use guo 过. This keeps the focus on the absence of experience.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 🚫 我没去过法国。 | Wǒ méi qù guo Fǎguó. | I have never been to France. |
| ❌ 她没吃过蛇。 | Tā méi chī guo shé. | She has never eaten snake. |
| 🔕 我没听过那首歌。 | Wǒ méi tīng guo nà shǒu gē. | I have never heard that song. |
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着 着 indicates a continuing state or an ongoing action, and it often appears when an action is backgrounded or when something remains in place. Use zhe 着 to highlight persistence.
Usage
Attach zhe 着 to the verb to show that the action or state is continuing, such as an object remaining where it is or someone holding an attitude. It works well for scene descriptions.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 🖥️ 窗户开着，风很凉。 | Chuānghù kāi zhe, fēng hěn liáng. | The window is open, and the wind is cool. |
| 📞 他正拿着手机打电话。 | Tā zhèng ná zhe shǒujī dǎ diànhuà. | He is holding the phone and making a call. |
| 🪑 椅子摆着很多文件。 | Yǐzi bǎi zhe hěn duō wénjiàn. | The chair has many documents on it. |
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Contrast with 了
Unlike le 了, which marks completion or change, zhe 着 maintains the current situation. Replacing zhe 着 with le 了 would shift the meaning to finished rather than ongoing.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 📝 我写完了报告。 | Wǒ xiě wán le bàogào. | I finished writing the report. |
| 🖊️ 我正在写着报告。 | Wǒ zhèng zài xiě zhe bàogào. | I am in the process of writing the report. |
| 🏃♂️ 他走了。 | Tā zǒu le. | He left. |
| 🚶♂️ 他走着。 | Tā zǒu zhe. | He is walking. |
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Summary
le 了 marks completed actions or changes, guo 过 marks past experiences, and zhe 着 marks ongoing states or actions. Paying attention to their positions and functions helps you convey time and aspect precisely in Mandarin.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025