Put one 了 le after the verb and another at the end of the sentence, and you get a special meaning: “so far, up to now.” The action has reached a certain amount or length of time by the moment you’re speaking, and it might keep going.
一 How Many So Far
Before you startThis page builds on 了 after a verb (了1) and 了 at the end of a sentence (了2). Not sure about those yet? Check out 了 le Part 1 first.
Subject + (已經已经) + Verb + 了 + Number + Measure Word (+ Object) + 了
This tells you how much has been done so far. 已經 yǐjīng已经 yǐjīng (“already”) is often added before the verb.
他已經已经喝了兩两杯酒了
He’s already had two glasses of wine.
我寫写了五百個个中國字中国字了
I’ve written 500 Chinese characters so far.
你已經已经買买了五件衣服了，太多了！
You’ve already bought five pieces of clothing. That’s too many!
我已經已经做了三份工作了，錢钱還是还是不夠够
I’m already working three jobs, and it’s still not enough money.
With a length of time, it tells you how long something has been going on up to now. Very often it’s still going on.
他已經已经看了兩两個个鐘頭钟头的電視电视了
He’s been watching TV for two hours already.
這这隻只狗，他養养了五年了
He’s had this dog for five years.
The dog is the topic, so it moves to the front.
你在台灣台湾住了多久了？
How long have you been living in Taiwan?
雨已經已经下了一個个禮拜礼拜了
It’s been raining for a week already.
三 One 了 vs. Double 了
One 了 or two? That final 了 makes a big difference.
One 了 · finished
我在台灣台湾住了兩两年
“I lived in Taiwan for two years.” That’s done now; I probably don’t live there anymore.
Double 了 · up to now
我在台灣台湾住了兩两年了
“I’ve been living in Taiwan for two years.” I still live here, and it’s been two years so far.
他喝了兩两杯酒
He drank two glasses of wine.
Just a fact about what happened.
他喝了兩两杯酒了
He’s had two glasses of wine (so far).
The counting isn’t over. He might have another! 🍷
四 Common Mistakes
❌ 我已經已经寫写了一百個个字，還还要寫写一百個个
✅ 我已經已经寫写了一百個个字了，還还要寫写一百個个
You’re still writing, so it’s “so far.” You need the second 了 le at the end.
❌ 雨下了三天已經已经了
✅ 雨已經已经下了三天了
已經 yǐjīng已经 yǐjīng goes before the verb, not at the end.
❌ 我學学了中文一年了
✅ 我學学了一年的中文了
The time comes before the object, just like with one 了.
五 Practice
Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like, or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck. Careful: some tiles are traps and are not needed!
Question 1 of 10
“I’ve already had three cups of coffee today.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我今天已經已经喝了三杯咖啡了
Three so far today, and the day isn’t over! ☕
“We’ve been waiting for 40 minutes.”
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❌ Try Again
我們我们已經已经等了四十分鐘分钟了
Still waiting, so double 了 le.
“How long have you been learning Chinese?”
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❌ Try Again
你學学了多久的中文了？
You’re still learning, so the question ends with 了 le too.
“She’s been working at this company for ten years.”
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❌ Try Again
她在這这家公司工作了十年了
She still works there: double 了 le.
“I’ve read 50 pages so far.”
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❌ Try Again
我看了五十頁页了
Still reading, so double 了 le.
“It’s been snowing for three days.”
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❌ Try Again
雪已經已经下了三天了
The snow is the topic, and 已經 yǐjīng已经 yǐjīng goes before the verb.
“He’s already eaten four bowls of rice!”
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❌ Try Again
他已經已经吃了四碗飯饭了！
Four so far, and he might not be done. 🍚
“I’ve been living in Kaohsiung for half a year.”
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我在高雄住了半年了
Still living there, so double 了 le.
“We’ve been walking for two hours. I’m so tired.”
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我們我们走了兩两個个小時小时了，好累
Two hours so far, and still walking. 😩
“I’ve already taken 200 photos.”
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❌ Try Again
我已經已经拍了兩百两百張张照片了
Amount so far: verb + 了 le + number + measure word + object + 了 le.
