了 Stroke Order — How to Write 了
了 is written in 2 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 亅, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
了 Radical and Character Components
Components:乛亅
了 is a pictograph. A child swaddled in blanklets; compare 子.
Radical: 亅 + 1 more stroke
了 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- liǎo
- le
Meanings of 了 in Chinese
1
liǎo了
To understand clearly; to be obvious or evident.
他一说，我就完全明了了
As soon as he spoke, I completely understood.
To finish, conclude, or settle, often appearing in phrases like '了结' (to settle/conclude) or '完了' (finished, done).
我们终于把这件麻烦事给彻底了结了。
We finally completely settled this troublesome matter.
Used after a verb, often with '不' (bù) or '得' (dé), to express whether an action can be completed or achieved (possibility or impossibility).
这么多菜，我一个人吃不了。
There are so many dishes, I can't eat them all by myself.
Used with 'dé' or 'bùdé' to express an extremely serious or intolerable situation, often in an exclamatory tone.
他如果知道真相，那可就不得了了！
If he knew the truth, that would be disastrous!
2
le了
Placed after a verb or adjective to indicate the completion of an action or change.
我吃完了饭。
I finished eating.
Particle, used at the end of a sentence or in the middle to indicate a change or a new situation.
饭好了。
The food is ready.
Common Words and Phrases with 了
1
It can mean extraordinary, remarkable, terrible, or conceited/arrogant (when describing a person).
他年纪轻轻就取得了这么大的成就，真了不得！
He achieved so much at such a young age, it's truly amazing!
2
3
To settle or conclude; to bring to an end.
我们必须尽快给这件事一个了断，不能再拖下去了。
We must bring this matter to a definitive conclusion as soon as possible; we cannot drag it out any longer.
4
To conclude, settle, or bring to an end a matter or affair.
经过长时间的谈判，他们终于了结了这笔复杂的交易。
After long negotiations, they finally concluded this complicated deal.
5
to understand; to comprehend; to find out.
我正在努力了解这个新软件的功能。
I am trying hard to understand the functions of this new software.
6
The end, outcome, or a solution/settlement to a matter.
这件事情还没有一个明确的了局。
This matter does not yet have a clear conclusion.
7
know clearly; understand clearly
他对这个复杂项目的每一个环节都了了于心，因此能够高效地解决问题。
He has a clear understanding of every aspect of this complex project, so he can solve problems efficiently.
8
To settle or solve something; to conclude or finish a matter.
我希望能够早日了却这桩麻烦事，好安心做其他工作。
I hope to settle this troublesome matter as soon as possible so I can focus on other work with peace of mind.
9
To know something like the back of one's hand; to have something at one's fingertips; to be extremely familiar with a situation.
他对公司的财务状况了如指掌，总能给出准确的分析。
He knows the company's financial situation like the back of his hand and can always provide accurate analysis.
10
To comprehend, understand, or realize something deeply and thoroughly; to wake up to a truth.
经过多年的学习和实践，他终于了悟了这门艺术的精髓。
After years of study and practice, he finally grasped the essence of this art.
11
Settle an account; finish a matter; (informal) die.
这个项目终于了账了，团队成员都可以好好休息一下了。
This project is finally settled, and the team members can all have a good rest.
More words with 了
- tuō脱bù不liǎo了shēn身Cannot get away, Be unable to leave
- luàn乱le了tào套in a mess, in chaos
- liǎo了dé得Remarkable, Excellent
- liǎo了shì事settle it, get it over with
- liáo了jiě解dào到learned, understood
- bù不liáo了jiě解don't understand, don't know
- kàn看le了kàn看looked, glanced
- liǎo了wú无nothing, without any
- qù去liáo了jiě解to understand, to learn about
- xià吓le了yí一tiào跳got a fright, was startled
- chū出le了wèn问tí题Something went wrong, There's a problem
- fàn犯le了cuò错made a mistake, committed an error
- liǎo了dàng当clear, settled
- liáo了jiě解bù不duō多Don't know much, Have limited understanding
- le了yí一xià下briefly, for a bit
- xiǎng想le了xiǎng想thought about it, pondered
- cā擦le了cā擦wiped, rubbed
- chū出le了gù故zhàng障out of order, malfunctioned
- chū初bù步liáo了jiě解initial understanding, basic understanding
- fàn犯le了cuò错wù误made a mistake, erred
Idioms with 了
- bù不liǎo了liǎo了zhī之leave a matter unresolved
- bù不shèn甚liǎo了liǎo了not very clear or understand
- cǎo草cǎo草liǎo了shì事finish a job carelessly
- cǎo草shuài率liǎo了shì事to do things carelessly
- fū敷yǎn衍liǎo了shì事to do things perfunctorily
- jiǎn简dān单míng明liǎo了simple and clear
- jiǎn简jié捷liǎo了dàng当straightforward and to the point
- jiǎn简jié截liǎo了dàng当brief and to the point
- liáng凉le了bàn半jié截deeply disheartened
- méi没wán完méi没liǎo了endless, never-ending
- qiān千liǎo了bǎi百dàng当Everything properly arranged and settled
- shàng上le了zéi贼chuán船caught in a compromising situation
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Open the tool →Questions about 了
What does 了 mean in Chinese?
了 (liǎo) means “To understand clearly” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 了?
了 has 2 pronunciations: liǎo, le.
How many strokes does 了 have?
了 has 2 strokes.
How do you write 了?
了 is written in 2 strokes, starting from the radical 亅. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 了?
The radical of 了 is 亅, and 了 is a pictograph.