While talking about the past can be quite challenging in English, it’s really quite easy in Chinese. Learn how to use two characters to ask and answer questions about the past in Chinese with this easy to follow instructional video.

了

le

 

过

guò

 

你吃饭了吗？- nǐ chī fàn le ma

Have you eaten yet?

 

我已经吃了 – wǒ yǐ jīng chī le

I’ve already eaten.

 

你去哪了？ – nǐ qù nǎ le

Where did you go?

 

昨天你去哪了？ – zuó tiān nǐ qù nǎ le

Where did you go yesterday?

 

昨天我去上海了 – zuó tiān wǒ qù shàng hǎi le

Yesterday, I went to Shanghai.

 

昨天我去超市了 – zuó tiān wǒ qù chāo shì le

Yesterday, I went to the supermarket.

 

你买了什么？ – nǐ mǎi le shén me

What did you buy?

 

我买水果了 – wǒ mǎi shuǐ guǒ le

I bought fruit.

 

你的作业做完了吗？ – nǐ de zuò yè zuò wán le ma

Did you finish your homework?

 

做完了 – zuò wán le

(Yes, I) finished.

 

我吃了 – wǒ chī le

I ate…

 

我去了 – wǒ qù le

I went…

 

我买了 – wǒ mǎi le

I bought…

 

你去过上海吗？ – nǐ qù guò shàng hǎi ma

Have you been to Shanghai?

 

我去过两次 – wǒ qù guò liǎng cì

I’ve been there twice.

 

我没去过 – wǒ méi qù guò

I haven’t been.

 

你吃过宫爆鸡丁吗？ – nǐ chī guò gōng bào jī dīng ma

Have you eaten kung pao chicken?

 

我吃过几次 – wǒ chī guò jǐ cì

I’ve eaten it several times.

 

我没吃过 – wǒ méi chī guò

I haven’t eaten it.

 

我去过 – wǒ qù guò

I’ve been…

 

我吃过 – wǒ chī guò

I’ve eaten…

 

昨天我吃饺子了 – zuó tiān wǒ chī jiǎo zi le

Yesterday, I ate dumplings.

 

我去过北京 – wǒ qù guò běi jīng

I have been to Beijing.

 

上个星期你去哪了？ – shàng gè xīng qī nǐ qù nǎ le

Where did you go last week?

 

我没吃过四川菜 – wǒ méi chī guò sì chuān cài

I haven’t eaten Sichuan food.

 

你喝过青岛啤酒吗？ – nǐ hē guò qīng dǎo pí jiǔ ma

Have you drank Tsingtao beer?