Chinese verbs do not have past-tense endings like '-ed' in English. Instead, when you finish a specific action, you glue 了1 right behind the verb (做好了, 吃了) to tell the listener: 'This job is done!'
Never use 了1 for everyday habits! Habits are ongoing routines, not a single finished job.
When an action did not happen in the past, drop 了 and use 没/没有.
No! Chinese has zero past tense. 了1 only marks a completed action (a done deal), never general habits.
| What You Mean | Natural Chinese | Learner Mistake to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| I eat breakfast every day (Habit) | 我天天吃早饭。 | ✗ 我天天吃了早饭。 |
| I finished eating breakfast (Done deal) | 我吃了早饭。 | ✓ Natural completed action |
| He cooked noodles for me (Done deal) | 他给我做好了面条。 | ✓ Natural completed action |
Because 了1 stamps the action itself! Placing it after the verb proves the action reached its finish line.
A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.
一天，白天明在学校大门口前边看见有人写了找猫的话：“我想找一只大白猫。
One day, in front of the school's main gate, Bai Tianming saw a notice someone had written looking for a cat: 'I'm looking for a big white cat.'
找了一个月，白天明也没有看见那只大白猫。
After searching for a month, Bai Tianming still didn't see that big white cat.
我写了找猫的话，天天有人打电话问我‘老先生，猫找到了吗’。
I wrote a notice looking for the cat, and every day people call to ask me, 'Sir, have you found the cat?'
白天明听了，坐在老先生前边。
After hearing this, Bai Tianming sat down in front of the old man.
老先生听了，非常高兴。
Hearing this, the old man was very happy.
This heartwarming story reveals the quiet devotion of a father. As you read, notice the repeated actions and how a simple cup of tea becomes meaningful.
大中听了，看那杯不热的茶，觉得老先生很好。
After hearing this, Dazhong looks at the no-longer-hot cup of tea and feels that the old gentleman is very kind.
大中很高兴，做了一杯热茶，给老先生喝。
Dazhong is very happy. He makes a cup of hot tea and gives it to the old gentleman to drink.
今天，热茶做好了，请您喝。”
Today, the hot tea is ready. Please drink it.'
老先生坐在七号桌子前，喝了第一口热茶。
The old gentleman sits at Table 7 and takes his first sip of hot tea.
Follow a day from waking at six-thirty to coming home at eight, then leap across days, months, and years. This simple story helps you practice speaking about routines and life changes with clear time words.
昨天卖了我的车。
Yesterday I sold my car.
今天去了电影院。
I went to the movie theater today.
去年买了新电脑。
Last year I bought a new computer.
今年有了新工作。
This year I got a new job.
This is a short dialogue about a shopping trip. A woman buys many things, including food, drinks, furniture, and pet food, while her boyfriend reminds her not to overspend.
我买了鸡蛋、面包、牛奶，还有一些水果，这些都是你和我的吃的和喝的东西，还有给我们的小猫和小狗吃的东西。
I bought eggs, bread, milk, and some fruit. These are things for you and me to eat and drink, plus food for our kitten and puppy.
你喜欢的那个桌子和椅子，我也买了。”
I also bought that table and chair you like.'
我都买了。”
I bought them all.'
Follow Dazhong, a busy worker in China, as he finds warmth and kindness at a small noodle shop. Practice everyday words for food, weather, and expressing gratitude.
老先生看见大中来了，非常高兴。
Seeing Dazhong walk in, the old gentleman's face lit up with joy.
老先生给大中做好了热面条。
In no time, the old gentleman had cooked up a steaming bowl of hot noodles for Dazhong.
大中吃了热热的面条，觉得今天晚上一点儿也不冷了。
Eating the piping hot noodles, Dazhong suddenly didn't feel the chill of the night at all.
Enjoy this simple story about a patient and a mysterious apple. It shows how a small act of kindness can make someone feel at home, and you'll learn key words for feelings and daily life.
马家友生病了，在医院的三号房间住。
Ma Jiayou got sick and was staying in Room 3 of the hospital.
老先生回家了，不在病房。
The old man had gone home and was not in the ward.
马家友吃了手里的苹果，觉得这个苹果真好吃！
Ma Jiayou ate the apple in his hand and thought it was really delicious!
This heartwarming story shows how a small act of kindness can be passed on. Follow Gao Xianming as he learns an important lesson about generosity in his new city.
高先明看见了老先生，给老先生五块钱。
Gao Xianming saw the old gentleman and gave him five yuan.
高先明听了，觉得非常高兴。
When Gao Xianming heard this, he felt very happy.
Meet Gao Youpeng, a friendly Beijing coworker who welcomes the narrator with local dishes and a simple language-exchange plan. This warm HSK 2 story is perfect for first readings about work and friendship.
今天我认识了一个新朋友，真高兴。
I made a new friend today—I'm really happy.
他今天从上海回来，晚上就和我去了一个饭馆儿吃北京菜。
He came back from Shanghai today, and that evening he went with me to a restaurant to eat Beijing food.
This playful poem helps you count and practice vocabulary about clothes, students, and pets. Enjoy the rhythm while learning new words.
买了五只小猫，七百零五块钱。
Bought five kittens for seven hundred and five yuan.
卖了六只小狗，四百零九元钱。
Sold six puppies for four hundred and nine yuan.
In this easy story, you will follow a simple trip to the supermarket to buy apples. Practice numbers, question words, and nationalities in a real-life shopping context.
我买了六个苹果。
I bought six apples.
Read about a work trip to Beijing where a group of colleagues takes a very large airplane. Practice weather words and actions in a simple travel story.
我找了一件衣服给他们。
I found a piece of clothing and gave it to them.
Shopping for fruit is a common daily task in China. Practice saying prices, counting items, and using simple shopping phrases while buying five apples for three yuan.
今天我买了五个苹果。
Today I bought five apples.
This short, simple story follows a shopper's trip to the supermarket to buy apples. You'll learn useful vocabulary for shopping, prices, and comparing things.
我买了三个小苹果，两个大苹果。
I bought three small apples and two big apples.
This short story follows a simple shopping trip in Beijing. You will learn words for buying a phone in Chinese.
在北京的一个商店，我买了一个手机。
I bought a phone at a store in Beijing.
This short, soothing piece is about missing someone on a rainy night. The sentences are simple and repeat often, so you can practice reading while feeling the warm emotion.
我看着电脑，写下了几个字：小雨，我想你。
I looked at my computer and wrote a few words: Xiaoyu, I miss you.
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