HSK 2 grammar · new HSK syllabus
How long: 学了两年, 等了一个小时
The length of time goes after the verb: 我学了两年. A second 了 means “and still going”.
Structure
- Verb + 了 + time length
- Verb + object + verb + 了 + time length
- Verb + 了 + time length + 了
How it works
In Chinese, how long something lasts comes after the verb: 我等了一个小时 = I waited for an hour.
With an object, repeat the verb (我学汉语学了两年) or put the time before the object with 的 (我学了两年的汉语).
If the action is still continuing, add 了 at the end too: 我学了两年了 = I’ve been learning for two years (and still am).
A point in time goes before the verb; a length of time goes after it.
Examples
-
我等了你一个小时。
Wǒ děng le nǐ yí gè xiǎoshí.
I waited an hour for you.
-
他学汉语学了三年。
Tā xué Hànyǔ xué le sān nián.
He studied Chinese for three years.
-
我在北京住了两年了。
Wǒ zài Běijīng zhù le liǎng nián le.
I’ve been living in Beijing for two years.
-
昨天我睡了十个小时。
Zuótiān wǒ shuì le shí gè xiǎoshí.
I slept for ten hours last night.
-
我们休息十分钟吧。
Wǒmen xiūxi shí fēnzhōng ba.
Let’s take a ten-minute break.
Words in these examples (22)
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 等 | děng | to wait | HSK 2 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 个 | gè | (general measure word) | HSK 1 |
| 小时 | xiǎoshí | hour | HSK 1 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 学 | xué | to learn; to study | HSK 1 |
| 汉语 | Hànyǔ | Chinese (language) | HSK 1 |
| 三 | sān | three | HSK 1 |
| 年 | nián | year | HSK 1 |
| 在 | zài | to be at; at; in; (before a verb) in the middle of doing | HSK 1 |
| 住 | zhù | to live (somewhere); to stay | HSK 1 |
| 两 | liǎng | two (before a measure word) | HSK 1 |
| 昨天 | zuótiān | yesterday | HSK 1 |
| 睡 | shuì | to sleep | HSK 1 |
| 十 | shí | ten | HSK 1 |
| 我们 | wǒmen | we; us | HSK 1 |
| 休息 | xiūxi | to rest; rest | HSK 1 |
| 分钟 | fēnzhōng | minute (of time) | HSK 1 |
| 吧 | ba | (particle for suggestions: "let's…", "…, OK?") | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗我两年学了汉语。
✓我学了两年汉语。
A length of time goes after the verb.
-
✗我学汉语两年。
✓我学汉语学了两年。
With an object, repeat the verb.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 他在这儿工作了 。
2. 我学汉语 一年了。
3. 我们等了 。