来中国一年了
how long it has been since something happened
Structure
动词 （+ 宾语） + 时长 + 了
What it means
Says how long it has been since something happened once, such as coming, arriving, leaving or meeting someone.
How it is built
Verb (+ object) + length + 了: 我来中国一年了 (It has been a year since I came to China). 我们认识半年了.
When to use it
With one-time actions (来, 到, 离开, 认识), the time counts from when it happened until now. Compare 在中国住了一年 (the living lasted a year).
Watch out
The object stays next to the verb, and 了 ends the sentence. ✗ 来了中国一年 ✓ 来中国一年了.
Examples
我来中国一年了。
I came to China a year ago. (It has been a year.)
我们认识半年了。
We’ve known each other for six months.
他离开公司三个月了。
He left the company three months ago.
Learn this in HSK 3 · Lesson 3: 带新人 (Showing the new hire around)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
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