Chinese relies on time words and context to express tense, rather than verb conjugation as in English. Speakers typically use time words, context, and aspect markers to determine when an action occurs.

Time words clearly indicate when the action occurs; they are the core tool for expressing tense in Chinese. Common time words can refer to past, present, or future and can be combined with aspect markers.

Aspect expresses the internal temporal characteristics of an action, such as whether it is completed or ongoing. In Chinese, aspect is marked more by words and structures than by tense.

The particle 'le' indicates that an action or event has been completed, often used at the end of a sentence or after a verb to emphasize result or change. It is most common when describing a past finished event.

‘Guo’ indicates having had the experience of doing something; it's usually placed after a verb and emphasizes that one has done it before, without focusing on the exact completion time of this action.

‘Zài’ indicates that an action is in progress, usually placed before the verb, equivalent to the English present progressive. It is commonly used to describe what is happening at the moment of speaking.

When no aspect marker is used, Chinese can express habits, facts, or ongoing states; the specific meaning is determined by context and time words. This usage corresponds to parts of the English simple present and present continuous.

To express the future, Chinese often uses time words and auxiliary verbs like 要 (want/plan to), 会 (will/likely), 打算 (intend) to indicate plans, wishes, or predictions. These words emphasize the speaker's attitude and arrangement.

Time words and aspect markers can be used together to indicate both when an action occurs and its state. This combination makes expressions precise and natural.

In Chinese, time words determine 'when,' and aspect markers (such as ‘le’, ‘guo’, ‘zai’) determine 'what state.' Mastering these two tools lets you clearly express past, present, and future meanings.