{"id":1898,"date":"2022-04-11T15:53:47","date_gmt":"2022-04-11T07:53:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maayot.com\/blog\/?p=1898"},"modified":"2022-04-11T15:53:49","modified_gmt":"2022-04-11T07:53:49","slug":"%e4%ba%86-how-to-use-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maayot.com\/blog\/%e4%ba%86-how-to-use-it\/","title":{"rendered":"\u4e86 – How To Use It\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chinese is quite challenging yet a fascinating language to learn. More people learn Chinese today as it helps in daily conversation or education. Well, it is getting popular now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, before we dive into our topic, let\u2019s have some fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"\/<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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 \u201c\u6211\u5403\u4e86\u996d\u4e86\u3002\u201d Look at this sentence. Are you thinking why there are two \u201c\u4e86\u201d in one sentence? What are their meanings, are they the same? Will you confuse about their meaning? See, there are lots of questions in just a short sentence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4e86\uff08le\uff09is one of the vital auxiliary words in Chinese. It can be one of the trickiest aspects of learning Chinese too. Why? It is because it is extremely common in Chinese. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This word is widely used in oral and written Chinese. There are many different uses to express grammatical features. Its uses also have many differences from English. Hence, foreign learners tend to make mistakes on how to use \u4e86. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us have a deep dive into the basic usage of \u4e86.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

How to Use \u4e86 in Chinese<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Set Structures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The basic use of the \u4e86 (le<\/em>) particle is in specific set structures. The easiest way to understand \u4e86 (le<\/em>) is to know the vocabulary first, rather than doing any deeper analysis. Here are some common examples for \u4e86(le<\/em>) :<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • \u592a \uff08adjective\uff09 \u4e86<\/li>
  • \u53ef \uff08adjective\uff09 \u4e86<\/li>
  • \uff08adjective\uff09 \u6781\u4e86<\/li>
  • \uff08adjective\uff09 \u6b7b\u4e86<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    These set patterns are used to strengthen the adjective used. Let\u2019s have some quick examples of these structures:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Structure 1: \u592a \uff08adjective\uff09 \u4e86<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    The \u201c\u592a \uff08adjective\uff09 \u4e86\u201d structure expresses an excess of something<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. \u592a\u68d2\u4e86! (t\u00e0i b\u00e0ng le!)
      Fantastic!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      1. \u8fd9\u4e2a\u76d2\u5b50\u592a\u5927\u4e86\u3002(zh\u00e8 ge h\u00e9 zi t\u00e0i d\u00e0 le)
        This box is too big.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Structure 2: \u53ef \uff08adjective\uff09 \u4e86<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
        1. \u8fd9\u4e2a\u7cd6\u679c\u53ef\u751c\u4e86\uff01 \uff08zh\u00e8 ge t\u00e1ng gu\u01d2 k\u011b ti\u00e1n le!)
          This candy is so sweet!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
          1. \u6211\u53ef\u96be\u53d7\u4e86\uff01\uff08w\u01d2 k\u011b n\u00e1n sh\u00f2u le!)
            I\u2019m so sad!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            Structure 3:\uff08adjective\uff09 \u6781\u4e86<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

            The \u6781\u4e86 structure is used on positive adjectives.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            1. \u4f60\u7684\u4e2d\u6587\u597d\u6781\u4e86\uff01\uff08n\u01d0 de zh\u014dng w\u00e9n h\u01ceo j\u00ed le!)
              Your Chinese is excellent!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              Structure 4: \uff08adjective\uff09 \u6b7b\u4e86<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

              The \u6b7b\u4e86 structure is often used with negative adjectives.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

              1. \u6211\u4eec\u5feb\u8981\u997f\u6b7b\u4e86\uff01\uff08w\u01d2 men ku\u00e0i y\u00e0o \u00e8 s\u01d0 le!)
                We\u2019re starving!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                Look! This is how the structures can be massive. Remember that grammatical patterns rarely match up precisely with other languages. That means translations of the same structure might be different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                So, it is crucial to focus on understanding the function of the structure rather than any set translations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Change of State<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                Next, we are going on a slightly trickier \u4e86 (le) grammar. It is used to indicate a new situation or change of state. So, it is only used at the end of a sentence. Furthermore, it is also called sentence-final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \u4e86 \uff08le) used on change of state is to draw attention to the fact that the situation is now different from before<\/strong>. It is like how we might express it with \u201cnow\u201d in English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Here are the example sentences for change of state \u4e86:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                1. \u4ed6\u4f1a\u8d70\u8def\u4e86\u3002\uff08t\u0101 hu\u00ec z\u01d2u l\u00f9 le.\uff09
                  He can walk now.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                  1. \u5979\u4f1a\u7528\u7535\u8111\u4e86\u3002(t\u0101 hu\u00ec y\u00f2ng di\u00e0n n\u01ceo le.)
                    She can use a computer now.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                    1. \u4ed6\u4eec\u4e0d\u4f4f\u5728\u8fd9\u91cc\u4e86\u3002(t\u0101 men b\u00f9 zh\u00f9 z\u00e0i zh\u00e8 l\u01d0 le.)
                      They don’t live here anymore.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                      English usually marks a negative state change with the word \u201canymore.\u201d But in Chinese, you can mark any change of state with \u4e86.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      Aspect Marker<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                      This kind \u4e86 is called \u201ccompleted action \u4e86.\u201d<\/strong> It\u2019s also technically called the \u201cperfective aspect \u4e86.\u201d<\/strong> This means that the action is complete. Sometimes, it is also called \u201cverb \u4e86<\/strong>\u201d as it appears right next to the verb in a sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      This type of \u4e86 is used to indicate that an action is complete<\/strong> within the time frame that we mention in the sentences. But, remember, the aspect \u4e86 has nothing to do with tense. It’s just about the completeness of an action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      Here are a few examples to make this clearer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      1. \u6628\u5929\u6211\u4e70\u4e86\u4e09\u9897\u7cd6\u3002\uff08zu\u00f3 ti\u0101n w\u01d2 m\u01cei le s\u0101n k\u0113 t\u00e1ng.)
                        I bought three candies yesterday.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                        1. \u53d4\u53d4\u5356\u4e86\u4e09\u9897\u7cd6\u7ed9\u6211\u3002(sh\u016b shu m\u00e0i le s\u0101n k\u0113 t\u00e1ng g\u011bi w\u01d2.)
                          Uncle sold me three candies.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                          Hopefully, these example sentences will make you clearer. \u201cVerb \u4e86<\/strong>\u201d isn\u2019t about tense; it is the completeness of an action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                          When Two Kinds of \u4e86 (le) Grammar Appear Together<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                          What happens if a sentence has two \u4e86? Actually, it happens quite a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          These sentences express both completed action and change of state<\/strong>. It means that something that is happening now is completed<\/strong>. It commonly describes what has been completed \u201cup to now\u201d or \u201cso far.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          Here are some examples of double \u4e86 in one sentence. These sentences include \u5df2\u7ecf (already) to show what\u2019s been done up till now:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          1. \u4ed6\u5df2\u7ecf\u5403\u4e86\u516b\u7897\u9762\u6761\u4e86\uff01(t\u0101 y\u01d0 j\u012bng ch\u012b le b\u0101 w\u01cen mi\u00e0n ti\u00e1o le!)
                            He ate eight bowls of noodles!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                            1. \u4f60\u5df2\u7ecf\u82b1\u4e86\u592a\u591a\u94b1\u4e86\uff01(n\u01d0 y\u01d0 j\u012bng hu\u0101 le t\u00e0i du\u014d qi\u00e1n le!)
                              You’ve already spent too much money!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                              1. \u4ed6\u4eec\u5df2\u7ecf\u8dd1\u4e86\u4e24\u4e2a\u5c0f\u65f6\u6b65\u4e86\u3002(t\u0101 men y\u01d0 j\u012bng p\u01ceo le li\u01ceng g\u00e8 xi\u01ceo sh\u00ed b\u00f9 le.)
                                They’ve been running for two hours.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                                Li\u01ceo – \u4e86 <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                                Next, we\u2019ll come to the final kind of \u4e86, which isn\u2019t pronounced as \u201cle.\u201d It\u2019s pronounced li\u01ceo. This kind of \u4e86 is entirely different from the ones we learn above. \u4e86\uff08 li\u01ceo \uff09means \u201cfinish\u201d or \u201ccomplete.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                It is a verbal complement, unlike the particle \u4e86\uff08le\uff09. \u4e86\uff08li\u01ceo \uff09 gives more information about the action. It is also used to indicate the potential for an action to be successful<\/strong>. Usually, it tells whether the action can or can\u2019t be done<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                \u4e86\uff08li\u01ceo \uff09is often combined with either \u5f97 (can) or \u4e0d (can’t). The action can be done when \u5f97\u4e86 is placed after a verb. At the same time, \u4e0d\u4e86 means that it can’t. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                Here are some examples for \u4e86 (li\u01ceo):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                1. \u6211\u505a\u5f97\u4e86\u3002(w\u01d2 zu\u00f2 d\u00e9 li\u01ceo.)
                                  I can do it.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                                  1. \u6211\u53d7\u4e0d\u4e86\u3002(w\u01d2 sh\u00f2u b\u00f9 li\u01ceo.)
                                    I can’t stand it.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                                    1. \u6211\u89c9\u5f97\u4ed6\u4eec\u6765\u5f97\u4e86\u3002(w\u01d2 ju\u00e9 de t\u0101 men l\u00e1i d\u00e9 li\u01ceo.)
                                      I think they’ll be able to come.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                                      1. \u8fd9\u4e48\u591a\u996d\u4f60\u5403\u5f97\u4e86\u5417\uff1f(zh\u00e8 me du\u014d f\u00e0n n\u01d0 ch\u012b d\u00e9 li\u01ceo ma?)
                                        There’s so much food, can you eat it all?<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                                        \"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                                        When le<\/em> Grammar and li\u01ceo<\/em> Grammar Work Together<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                                        Do you know that li\u01ceo \u4e86 can also appear together with sentence \u4e86? This will indicate whether an action can or can\u2019t be done anymore<\/strong>. In this pattern, two \u4e86 will appear side by side: \u4e86\u4e86. Whenever you see this in a sentence, you will know that it must be pronounced: \u201cli\u01ceo le.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                        Here are some examples for you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                        1. \u6211\u53d7\u4e0d\u4e86\u4e86\u3002(w\u01d2 sh\u00f2u b\u00f9 li\u01ceo le.)
                                          I can’t stand it anymore.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                                          1. \u6211\u5403\u4e0d\u4e86\u4e86\u3002(w\u01d2 ch\u012b b\u00f9 li\u01ceo le.)
                                            I can’t eat anymore.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                                            Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                                            It is vital to learn \u4e86 if you want to speak Chinese well. You\u2019ll be using this word in most sentences when you communicate using Chinese daily. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                            I hope this article shares valuable content with you. We wish to help you to gain more knowledge about Chinese grammar. If you want to learn more, subscribe to Maayot <\/a>for more interesting Chinese knowledge. I’m sure it will benefit you a lot! You can also check out some other fun articles from us:<\/p>\n\n\n\n