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Time Expressions & Tense Markers

Time words
我二十岁。
I am 20 years old.
Wǒ èrshí suì.
Age expression with 岁 (suì)
我学了两年中文了。
I've been studying Chinese for 2 years.
Wǒ xuéle liǎng nián Zhōngwén le.
Duration with double 了 (ongoing)
每天 / 每周 / 每年
every day / every week / every year
měi tiān / měi zhōu / měi nián
Frequency with 每 (měi) = every
春天来了！
Spring has come!
Chūntiān lái le!
Sentence-final 了 for new situation
吃饭以前 / 吃饭以后
before eating / after eating
chī fàn yǐqián / yǐhòu
Time clauses with 以前/以后
我小的时候
when I was young
wǒ xiǎo de shíhòu
Time clause with 的时候 = when
火车快要开了。
The train is about to leave.
Huǒchē kuài yào kāi le.
Imminent future: 快要…了
我刚吃了。
I just ate.
Wǒ gāng chī le.
Recent past: 刚 (gāng) = just
先吃饭，然后睡觉。
First eat
then sleep.
Xiān chī fàn
她又吃又喝。
She keeps eating and drinking.
Tā yòu chī yòu hē.
又…又 for repeated/simultaneous actions