Aspect particle 動態助詞 (动态助词)

dòngtài zhùcí · from English

What is an aspect particle?

An aspect particle marks how an action unfolds in time (completed, ongoing or experienced) rather than when it happened, such as Mandarin 了, 著 and 過.

Mandarin has no tense inflection; instead 了 le marks completion or change, 著 (着) zhe a continuing state and 過 (过) guo past experience. Cantonese has a richer set, including 咗 zo2, 緊 gan2 and 過 gwo3. Confusing aspect with tense is the classic learner trap with 了.

Examples

我吃了 wǒ chī le (I ate / have eaten); 門開著 mén kāizhe (the door is open); 我去過日本 wǒ qùguo Rìběn (I have been to Japan); Cantonese 食咗 sik6 zo2 (have eaten)

Kungfucius says: 了 is not past tense. Repeat until you believe it, then repeat again.