了 vs 过 vs 着
How to Use 了, 过, and 着: Chinese Aspect Particles
Quick Summary
了 marks a completed action or change, 过 marks experience, and 着 marks a continuing state. Choose by what you want to emphasize, not by English tense.
Detailed Breakdown
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Completed action or change of state
Grammar Pattern
V + 了 / sentence + 了Examples
我吃了饭。
wǒ chī le fàn.
I ate / I have eaten.
下雨了。
xià yǔ le.
It started raining.
太好了！
tài hǎo le!
Great! / That is wonderful!
guo / guò
Experience marker
Grammar Pattern
V + 过Examples
我去过北京。
wǒ qù guo Běijīng.
I have been to Beijing.
他没看过这本书。
tā méi kàn guo zhè běn shū.
He has not read this book.
你吃过火锅吗？
nǐ chī guo huǒguō ma?
Have you ever eaten hot pot?
zhe / zháo / zhuó
Continuing state marker
Grammar Pattern
V / Adj + 着Examples
门开着。
mén kāi zhe.
The door is open.
他坐着看书。
tā zuò zhe kàn shū.
He is sitting while reading.
灯亮着。
dēng liàng zhe.
The light is on.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | 了 | 过 | 着 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core idea | Something happened or changed | Something has been experienced | A state is continuing |
| Main pattern | V + 了 / sentence + 了 | V + 过 | V or adjective + 着 |
| Time focus | Completion or new situation | Life experience before now | State at this moment |
| Common negation | 没(有) + V + 了 only in special contexts | 没(有) + V + 过 | Usually not + V/Adj + 着 |
| Learner cue | Did it happen or change? | Has it ever happened? | Is it still like this now? |
Memory Tips
- Use 了 when the important point is that something happened or the situation changed.
- Use 过 when the important point is experience: whether someone has ever done something.
- Use 着 when the important point is a state that continues, like a door being open or a light being on.
Common Mistakes
Use 过 when you mean “I have been to Beijing” as an experience. 我去北京了 means I went / have gone to Beijing, focusing on the event or change.
门开了 focuses on the moment the door opened. 门开着 focuses on the door being open now.
看着 means looking at something or watching. Use 看过 when you mean you have read the book before.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 了 mean past tense?
No. 了 marks completion or a change of state, but Chinese does not use tense the same way English does. A sentence with 了 can talk about the past, the present result, or an upcoming change depending on context.
What is the difference between 了 and 过?
了 says an action happened or a situation changed. 过 says someone has had the experience before. 我看了这本书 focuses on completing the reading; 我看过这本书 means I have read it before.
When should I use 着?
Use 着 when you want to describe a continuing state, such as 门开着 (the door is open) or 灯亮着 (the light is on).
Why is 着 sometimes pronounced differently?
The aspect particle is usually neutral-tone zhe. In other words, 着 can be pronounced zháo or zhuó, such as 睡着 (fall asleep) or 着手 (begin to do), so learners should check the word context.
Related Comparisons
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