This is the third part of 數量補語数量补语 shùliàng bǔyǔ. Parts 1 and 2 covered actions you can keep doing for a while. This part is about the opposite kind of verb — one that happens all at once — and what the time word means when it’s attached to one of those instead.
1 V + duration + 了了 le — Time Since It Happened
Some verbs describe something that happens in one instant, with no real duration — you can’t “get married” for three hours the way you can “sleep” for three hours. When one of these verbs takes this pattern, the time word isn’t measuring the action itself; it’s measuring how much time has passed since that instant.
他們結婚7年了，這是最重要的一年他们结婚7年了，这是最重要的一年
They have been married for 7 years — this is the most important year.
我跟Tiffany認識5年了我跟Tiffany认识5年了
Tiffany and I have known each other for 5 years.
他離開台灣3年了他离开台湾3年了
It’s been 3 years since he left Taiwan.
我大學畢業5年了我大学毕业5年了
It’s been 5 years since I graduated from college.
爸爸退休2年了爸爸退休2年了
Dad has been retired for 2 years.
Not the Same as V + Duration from Part 2
他游了四十分鐘的泳他游了四十分钟的泳 means he was swimming, continuously, for 40 minutes — the time measures the action. 他離開台灣3年了他离开台湾3年了 doesn’t mean he was “leaving” for 3 years — leaving happens in a moment. The 3 years is how long it’s been since that moment.
2 Paired With a Consequence
This pattern often shows up describing a bad event, followed by how long its effects have lasted.
他得到了Covid，所以5天不能來上班他得到了Covid，所以5天不能来上班
He got Covid, so he couldn’t come to work for 5 days.
我家水管壞了，所以我家已經3天沒有水了我家水管坏了，所以我家已经3天没有水了
My house’s pipes broke, so my house has had no water for 3 days.
他跟女朋友分手了，所以已經一個月沒有心情工作了他跟女朋友分手了，所以已经一个月没有心情工作了
He broke up with his girlfriend, so he hasn’t been in the mood to work for a month.
這台電腦壞了，我已經兩個星期沒辦法工作了这台电脑坏了，我已经两个星期没办法工作了
This computer broke, and I haven’t been able to work for two weeks.
3 Practice
Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.
01It’s been 1 year since my friend moved.
我朋友搬家1年了我朋友搬家1年了
👆 Tap to reveal
02He’s been off cigarettes for 3 months.
他戒菸3個月了他戒烟3个月了
👆 Tap to reveal
03It’s been half a year since our company closed down.
我們公司倒閉半年了我们公司倒闭半年了
👆 Tap to reveal
04It’s been 2 years since he went abroad.
他出國2年了他出国2年了
👆 Tap to reveal
05It’s been almost a year since I changed jobs.
我換工作快1年了我换工作快1年了
👆 Tap to reveal
06He got sick, so he hasn’t been to school for 3 days.
他生病了，所以3天沒有來學校他生病了，所以3天没有来学校
👆 Tap to reveal
07My phone broke, I haven’t been able to use my phone for a week.
手機壞了，我已經一個星期沒辦法用手機了手机坏了，我已经一个星期没办法用手机了
👆 Tap to reveal
08It’s been 10 years since she graduated from college.
她大學畢業10年了她大学毕业10年了
👆 Tap to reveal
09It’s been 2 years since I broke up with him.
我跟他分手2年了我跟他分手2年了
👆 Tap to reveal
10It’s been 3 years since he was discharged from the military.
他退伍3年了他退伍3年了
👆 Tap to reveal
