HSK 3
A 了
A le
become A
Structure
Subject + Adjective + 了
How it works
The particle '了' (le) placed after an adjective or a state indicates a change in situation or the emergence of a new state. This construction implies that things are different now compared to how they were before.
Examples
天气热了。
Tiānqì rè le.
The weather has become hot.
他的病好了。
Tā de bìng hǎo le.
He is recovered now.
苹果红了。
Píngguǒ hóng le.
The apples have turned red.
Common mistakes
Confusing this '了' with the past tense; in this context, it marks a transition, not necessarily a completed action.
Tip
Think of this '了' as meaning 'it wasn't like this before, but it is now.'
More HSK 3 grammar
See A 了 in real Chinese
Import an article and tap any sentence using it. The explanation comes back about the sentence in front of you, not a textbook example.
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