Skip to content
HSK Training logo HSK Training
  1. Home
  2. Grammar Points
  3. Expressing duration with 了 ("le")

Expressing duration with 了 ("le")

了 le

Verb
HSK 2

Structure

Subj. + Verb + 了 + Duration + Obj. Subj. + Verb + 了 + Duration + 的 + Obj. Subj. + [Time Word] + Verb + 了 + Duration + Obj.

Translations

  • says how long an action lasted

Definition

表示动作从开始到现在（或某一时间点）已经持续了多长时间。常与动态助词“了”配合使用，构成“动词+了+时量+了”或“动词+了+时量”的结构。

Indicates the duration that an action has been ongoing from its start until now (or a certain point in time). Often used with the aspect particle '了', forming structures like 'Verb + 了 + duration + 了' or 'Verb + 了 + duration'.

Usage

用法：1. 强调动作持续到现在并可能继续：动词+了+时量+了（第二个“了”表示状态变化）。2. 仅表示动作完成的时长：动词+了+时量（无第二个“了”）。3. 否定式：没+动词+时量（不带“了”）。4. 疑问式：动词+了+多长时间+了？

Usage: 1. Emphasizes that the action has continued up to now and may continue: Verb + 了 + duration + 了 (the second '了' indicates a change of state). 2. Only expresses the duration of a completed action: Verb + 了 + duration (without the second '了'). 3. Negative form: 没 + Verb + duration (without '了'). 4. Interrogative form: Verb + 了 + how long + 了?

Examples

  • 1 我学了三年汉语了。（I have studied Chinese for three years and am still studying.）
  • 2 他睡了八个小时。（He slept for eight hours.）
  • 3 她没等多久。（She didn't wait long.）
  • 4 你学了多长时间了？（How long have you been studying?）
  • 5 他在北京住了两年了。（He has lived in Beijing for two years and still lives there.）
View all HSK 2 grammar points

Put it into practice

Exam-style HSK drills with instant scoring and explanations.

Find my HSK level

Free · about 3 minutes · no account needed