Aspect particles show how an action unfolds in time and whether it is completed, ongoing, or habitual. They add nuance to when and how an event happens.
了 le (completion / change)
了 signals that an action has been completed or that there has been a change of state. It often appears after a verb to mark finishing, or at the end of a sentence for more general change.
Usage
Use 了 immediately after the verb to show completion of that action. Use sentence-final 了 to highlight a change or new situation. 了 can also follow a time phrase to signal that an expected action did or did not occur.
Examples
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🍣 我🍣吃了🍣寿司。 | Wǒ chī le shòusī. | I ate sushi. (Completed) | |
| 🍣 寿司🍣好了。 | Shòusī hǎo le. | The sushi is ready. (Change) | |
| 🍣 我🍣吃了🍣三份。 | Wǒ chī le sān fèn. | I ate three servings. | |
| 🍣 店里🍣来了🍣很多客人。 | Diàn lǐ lái le hěn duō kèrén. | Many customers arrived. |
Notes
Not every sentence needs 了 to feel natural; 了 focuses on result or change. When describing habitual actions, 了 is usually omitted. 了 can combine with other particles like 过 and 在 for finer meaning.
过 guò (experiential / "have done")
过 indicates that someone has had the experience of doing something at least once in the past. It emphasizes whether an action was ever done, not when or whether it was completed.
Usage
Place 过 immediately after the verb to mark that the action occurred at some time before now. Use 过 to talk about life experiences, and omit it when focusing on specific completed events.
Examples
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🍣 我🍣吃过🍣东京的寿司。 | Wǒ chī guò Dōngjīng de shòusī. | I have eaten Tokyo sushi. | |
| 🍵 他喝过🍵了很多种茶。 | Tā hē guò le hěn duō zhǒng chá. | He has tried many kinds of tea. | |
| 🍣 我没吃过🍣那个卷。 | Wǒ méi chī guò nà ge juǎn. | I haven’t tried that roll. | |
| ✈️ 他们去过🍣很多国家吃寿司。 | Tāmen qù guò hěn duō guójiā chī shòusī. | They have traveled to many countries to eat sushi. |
Notes
过 is not used for habitual actions or for actions in progress. It contrasts with 了: 过 highlights experience, 了 highlights completion. Questions with 过 ask whether someone has ever done something.
在 zài (progress / location)
在 can serve as a preposition meaning "at" or "in," and as an aspect marker it signals that an action is in progress when placed before a verb. It highlights ongoing activity rather than completion.
Usage
Use 在 before a verb to show that the action is currently happening. Use 在 as a preposition to indicate location when followed by a noun. For short actions, 在 + verb + 时间 phrase is common in spoken Chinese.
Examples
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🍣 我正在🍣排队买寿司。 | Wǒ zhèngzài pái duì mǎi shòusī. | I am lining up to buy sushi. | |
| 🍣 店里🍣正在准备新的卷。 | Diàn lǐ zhèngzài zhǔnbèi xīn de juǎn. | They are preparing new rolls in the shop. | |
| 🍣 桌子上🍣放着一盘寿司。 | Zhuōzi shàng fàng zhe yī pán shòusī. | There is a plate of sushi on the table. | |
| 🍣 我朋友🍣在寿司店工作。 | Wǒ péngyǒu zài shòusī diàn gōngzuò. | My friend works at the sushi restaurant. |
Notes
For completed actions, 在 is usually replaced by 了 or omitted. 在 emphasizes ongoing or longer actions. It can combine with other particles like 呢 to reinforce continuous aspect.
要 yào (near future / intention)
要 often marks planned or imminent actions when placed before a verb. It expresses intention or a strong likelihood that something will happen soon. 要 can also function as "to want."
Usage
Use 要 before a verb to signal that an action will happen in the near future or that someone intends to do it. 要 can be softened with other time phrases for less immediacy. When 要 means "to want," it highlights desire rather than timing.
Examples
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🍣 我要买🍣那盘龙卷。 | Wǒ yào mǎi nà pán lóng juǎn. | I want to buy that dragon roll. | |
| 🍣 店快关门了，顾客要快点点菜。 | Diàn kuài guānmén le, gùkè yào kuài diǎn diàncài. | The store is closing soon, customers need to order quickly. | |
| 🍣 我晚上要吃🍣寿司派对。 | Wǒ wǎnshàng yào chī shòusī pàiduì. | I’m going to a sushi party tonight. | |
| 🍣 厨师说要加更多酱料。 | Chúshī shuō yào jiā gèng duō jiàngliào. | The chef said to add more sauce. |
Notes
For more distant future actions, other markers like 会 or 打算 may be better. 要 can appear with 时间 phrases to clarify timing. In commands, 要 can add urgency or be softened depending on context.
Summary
Aspect particles like 了, 过, 在 and 要 shape how listeners understand time, completion, and relevance of actions. Pay attention to position and sentence type to choose the right particle for nuance. Practice with real sentences to feel their natural use.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025