# 了

| 了 | U+4E86, &#20102; CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4E86 |
| ← 亅 [U+4E85] | CJK Unified Ideographs | 亇 → [U+4E87] |
| 了 | U+F9BA, &#63930; CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-F9BA |
| ← 惡 [U+F9B9] | CJK Compatibility Ideographs | 僚 → [U+F9BB] |

## Translingual
### Han character

了 (Kangxi radical 6, 亅+1, 2 strokes, cangjie input 弓弓 (NN), four-corner 1720$_7$, composition ⿱乛亅 or ⿱乛㇁)

#### Derived characters

* 𡤼, 𠆨, 𠖭, 𠮩, 𢆳, 𢩪, 𣱾, 𭨥, 𣎸, 𣬝, 辽, 𤽀, 𭾙, 䄦, 𪜜, 𥾇, 𬚊, 䑠, 𧘈, 𧾿, 𪞠, 釕(钌), 𫘵, 𩵌, 𩾒(𬷽), 𪌀, 𬼷, 𭣡, 𬻺, 𪟽, 㝋, 𭙏, 𦫼, 疗, 𥤣, 亨, 爳, 𬼶, 𠙶, 叾, 𬼹, 𰁒, 𠄏

#### References

* Kangxi Dictionary: page 85, character 11
* Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 226
* Dae Jaweon: page 173, character 20
* Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 48, character 6
* Unihan data for U+4E86
* Unihan data for U+F9BA

## Chinese
### Glyph origin

* Historical forms of the character 了
* Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)
* Small seal script
* Small seal scripts10990Transcribed ancient scriptsL16444L16445L16446L16447L16448L16449L16450
* References:
* Mostly from Richard Sears' Chinese Etymology site (authorisation), which in turn draws data from various collections of ancient forms of Chinese characters, including:
* Shuowen Jiezi (small seal),
* Jinwen Bian (bronze inscriptions),
* Liushutong (Liushutong characters) and
* Yinxu Jiaguwen Bian (oracle bone script).
| | Old Chinese |
| 釕 | *teːwʔ |
| 了 | *reːwʔ |
According to the Shuowen Jiezi, a pictogram (象形) of a baby without arms. Compare with 子, where the arms are visible. The Shuowen defines 了 as "the crossing of lower legs".
In the Shuowen Jiezi Zhu, a commentary to the Shuowen Jiezi, it is said that the pictogram instead depicts entangled legs (了戾).
Its relation with the meaning "to finish" is likely via sound loan, but an argument can be made about "entangled legs" → "tie"→ "finish".
Unrelated to 亨.

### Etymology 1

Verb “to finish; to be completed” > perfective aspect particle (了₁, weakened form) > change-of-state modal particle (了₂). It eventually replaced classical 矣 (OC *ɢlɯʔ).
Two kinds of particle uses of 了 can be distinguished: the perfective aspect particle after verbs (conventionally written as 了₁) and the sentence-final modal particle (了₂). It is generally accepted (Wu, 1998) that these two uses of 了 are derived from the concrete verb “to finish”. The grammaticalisation of this verb had become common in the Tang Dynasty, initially in the form of ‹verb + (object) + perfective 了› to indicate the completion of an action.
The perfective particle subsequently underwent further grammaticalisation to become the sentence-final change-of-state modal particle; Liu (1985) has demonstrated that this last step may have involved the coalescence of sentence-final 了 with 也 in certain Mandarin dialects, as the pronunciations of 了₁ and 了₂ are distinct in these dialects, with 了₂ rhyming with 也.
Contrary to the suggestion in Schuessler (2007), this word is not related to Vietnamese rồi, due to the non-existent correspondence between any given phonemes. Thai แล้ว (lɛ́ɛo, “to be finished; already; then, afterwards”), Lao ແລ້ວ (lǣu, “to finish; to be completed; perfective particle”) are loans from Chinese.

#### Pronunciation 1

* Mandarin
    (Standard)
       (Pinyin): le, liǎo, lou (le$^5$／le$^0$, liao$^3$, lou$^5$／lou$^0$)
       (Zhuyin): ˙ㄌㄜ, ㄌㄧㄠˇ, ˙ㄌㄡ
    (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): no$^2$ / no$^3$
    (Xi'an, Guanzhong Pinyin): liao
    (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): ли (li, 0)
* Cantonese (Jyutping): liu$^5$
* Gan (Wiktionary): lieu
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): lé
    (Meixian, Guangdong): ê$^2$
* Northern Min (KCR): làu
* Eastern Min (BUC): lāu
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): lieo$^3$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): liáu
    (Teochew, Peng'im): liao$^2$
* Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): $^8$leq; $^0$leq
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: le
*** Zhuyin: ˙ㄌㄜ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: le̊
*** Wade–Giles: lê$^5$
*** Yale: le
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: .le
*** Palladius: лэ (lɛ)
*** Sinological IPA : /lə/
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: liǎo
*** Zhuyin: ㄌㄧㄠˇ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: liǎo
*** Wade–Giles: liao$^3$
*** Yale: lyǎu
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: leau
*** Palladius: ляо (ljao)
*** Sinological IPA : /li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴/
** (Standard Chinese, dated variant)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: lou
*** Zhuyin: ˙ㄌㄡ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: lo̊u
*** Wade–Giles: lou$^5$
*** Yale: lou
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: .lou
*** Palladius: лоу (lou)
*** Sinological IPA : /loʊ̯/
** (Chengdu)
*** Sichuanese Pinyin: no$^2$ / no$^3$
*** Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: lo / lo
*** Sinological IPA : /no²¹/, /no⁵³/
** (Xi'an)
*** Guanzhong Pinyin: liao
*** Sinological IPA : /liau/
** (Dungan)
*** Cyrillic and Wiktionary: ли (li, 0)
*** Sinological IPA : /li⁰/
    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: liu$^5$
*** Yale: líuh
*** Cantonese Pinyin: liu$^5$
*** Guangdong Romanization: liu$^5$
*** Sinological IPA : /liːu̯¹³/
* Gan
** (Nanchang)
*** Wiktionary: lieu
*** Sinological IPA : /liɛu/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: lé
*** Hakka Romanization System: le$^ˋ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: le$^3$
*** Sinological IPA: /le³¹/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: ê$^2$
*** Sinological IPA: /e¹¹/
* Northern Min
** (Jian'ou)
*** Kienning Colloquial Romanized: làu
*** Sinological IPA : /lau⁴²/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: lāu
*** Sinological IPA : /l̃au³³/
* Puxian Min
** (Putian)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: lieo$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /lieu⁴⁵³/
** (Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: lieo$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /lieu³³²/
* Southern Min
** (Hokkien)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: liáu
*** Tâi-lô: liáu
*** Phofsit Daibuun: liao
*** IPA (Xiamen): /liau⁵³/
*** IPA (Quanzhou): /liau⁵⁵⁴/
*** IPA (Zhangzhou): /liau⁵³/
*** IPA (Taipei): /liau⁵³/
*** IPA (Kaohsiung): /liau⁴¹/
** (Teochew)
*** Peng'im: liao$^2$
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: liáu
*** Sinological IPA : /liau⁵²/
* Wu
** (Northern: Shanghai)
*** Wugniu: $^8$leq; $^0$leq
*** MiniDict: leh$^入$; leh
*** Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): $^5$leq; $^0$leq
*** Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /ləʔ¹²/, /ləʔ/

##### Definitions

了
* Used after a verb to indicate perfective aspect (action completion).
       Wǒ chī le yī ge píngguǒ. [Pinyin]
       I ate an apple. / I have eaten an apple.
       Tā zài Běijīng zhù le liǎng nián. [Pinyin]
       He lived in Beijing for two years.
* Used at the end of a sentence to indicate a change of state.
    他是大學生了。／他是大学生了。 ― Tā shì dàxuéshēng le. ― He has become a college student / He is a college student now.
* Used at the end of a sentence to inform the beginning of an action.
    我走了。 ― Wǒ zǒu le. ― I'm leaving now.
* (contemporary Shanghainese) Used to indicate the present tense.

###### Synonyms

| Variety | Location | Words |
| Classical Chinese | Classical Chinese | 矣$_1$ |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 了 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 了 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 了 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Harbin | 了 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Malaysia | 了 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 了 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Jinan | 了 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Yantai (Muping) | 了 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Luoyang | 了 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Wanrong | 嘮 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xi'an | 咧 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xuzhou | 了 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Yinchuan | 了 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Ürümqi | 咧 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu | 了 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Wuhan | 了 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guiyang | 了 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guilin | 了 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Liuzhou | 了 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Nanjing | 了 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Yangzhou | 了 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 咗, 嘵 obsolete |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (San Tin; Weitou) | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Kam Tin; Weitou) | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Ting Kok) | 耗 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau) | 好 |
| Cantonese | Macau | 咗, 敲 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Panyu) | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu) | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Conghua) | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Foshan | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Sanshui) | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming) | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Zhongshan (Shiqi) | 哺 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou) | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Jiangmen (Xinhui) | 誒, 咗 |
| Cantonese | Taishan | 誒 |
| Cantonese | Kaiping (Chikan) | 誒 |
| Cantonese | Enping (Niujiang) | 誒 |
| Cantonese | Dongguan | 敲 |
| Cantonese | Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an) | 好 |
| Cantonese | Shenzhen (Dapeng) | 後, 咗 |
| Cantonese | Qingyuan | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Fogang | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Yingde (Hanguang) | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Shaoguan | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Shaoguan (Qujiang) | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Renhua | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Lechang | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Zhaoqing (Gaoyao) | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Xinxing | 標 |
| Cantonese | Luoding | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Yangjiang | 都 |
| Cantonese | Nanning | 嗮 |
| Cantonese | Nanning (Tanka) | 嗮 |
| Cantonese | Wuzhou | 啊 |
| Cantonese | Hepu (Lianzhou) | 了 |
| Cantonese | Guiping | 畢 |
| Cantonese | Guiping (Mule) | 開, 了 |
| Cantonese | Pingnan | 開 |
| Cantonese | Guigang (Gangcheng) | 開 |
| Cantonese | Guigang (Pingdong) | 開, 了 |
| Cantonese | Beihai | 了 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Nankang) | 了 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Yingpan) | 了 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô) | 了, 咗 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà) | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Fangchenggang (Fangcheng) | 了, 咗 |
| Cantonese | Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu) | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Ipoh (Guangfu) | 開 |
| Cantonese | Singapore (Guangfu) | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu) | 咗 |
| Cantonese | Móng Cái | 了, 咗 |
| Gan | Nanchang | 了 |
| Gan | Lichuan | 了 |
| Hakka | Meixian | 了 |
| Hakka | Huizhou (Huicheng; Bendihua) | 拋, 阿 |
| Hakka | Dongguan (Qingxi) | 開 |
| Hakka | Shenzhen (Shatoujiao) | 開 |
| Hakka | Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui) | 開 |
| Hakka | Wuhua (Shuizhai) | 哩 |
| Hakka | Wuhua (Huacheng) | 哩 |
| Hakka | Wuhua (Changbu) | 哩 |
| Hakka | Wuhua (Mianyang) | 哩 |
| Hakka | Yudu | 了 |
| Hakka | Hong Kong | 開 |
| Hakka | Senai (Huiyang) | 開 |
| Hakka | Kuching (Hepo) | 了 |
| Huizhou | Jixi | 了 |
| Jin | Taiyuan | 咾 |
| Jin | Xinzhou | 咾 |
| Jiuxing Yumin | Lanxi | 了 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou | 了 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou | 了, 𡅏 |
| Southern Min | Penang (Hokkien) | 了 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 了 |
| Southern Min | Manila (Hokkien) | 了, 囉 |
| Southern Min | Chaozhou | 了 |
| Southern Min | Shantou | 了 |
| Southern Min | Johor Bahru (Teochew) | 了 |
| Southern Pinghua | Nanning (Tingzi) | 了 |
| Wu | Shanghai | 仔, 了 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Chongming) | 仔 |
| Wu | Suzhou | 仔 |
| Wu | Hangzhou | 得, 了 |
| Wu | Hangzhou (Yuhang) | 得, 了 |
| Wu | Ningbo | 仔 |
| Wu | Wenzhou | 爻 |
| Wu | Jinhua | 了 |

###### Usage notes

* (perfective aspect particle): Most of the time, 了 is translated by a past tense. But it can also indicate that one action is completed before another.
       Nǐ chī le yǐhòu jiào wǒ. [Pinyin]
       Call me when you are done eating.
* (change of state particle): When used as the change of state particle, 了 can be translated by “now”, “already” or “not anymore”.
    我會說中文了。／我会说中文了。 ― Wǒ huì shuō zhōngwén le. ― I can speak Chinese now. (I couldn't before.)
    我喝醉了。 ― Wǒ hēzuì le. ― I'm drunk.
    沒有紙了。／没有纸了。 ― Méiyǒu zhǐ le. ― There's no paper anymore.
* In a question, 了 is put before the particle 嗎／吗 (ma).
* (Northern Wu): In Shanghainese, this term is primarily used to indicate the present tense and secondarily the perfective aspect. The present tense sense is derived from Old Shanghainese 哉. For the usage difference between other perfectives, see 脫了#Usage notes.
* (Malaysian Mandarin, Singaporean Mandarin): 了 (le) is often colloquially pronounced as 了 (liǎo) in all instances.
       Nǐ dǎsǎo liǎo zài bāng wǒ zhǔfàn. [Pinyin]
       Help me cook after you're done cleaning up.

###### Descendants

* → English: already, liao (Singapore English) (semantic loan)

##### Compounds

* 一塊石頭落了地 / 一块石头落了地
* 一早起了
* 上了歲數 / 上了岁数
* 三魂掉了二魂
* 不乾不淨，吃了沒病 / 不干不净，吃了没病
* 不在了
* 不好了
* 不是東風壓了西風，就是西風壓了東風 / 不是东风压了西风，就是西风压了东风
* 了錢 / 了钱 (liáu-chîⁿ) (Min Nan)
* 作倒了行市
* 但得一片橘皮吃，且莫忘了洞庭湖
* 信人調，丟了瓢 / 信人调，丢了瓢
* 倒了八輩子楣 / 倒了八辈子楣
* 倒了架
* 倒了柴
* 倒了架子
* 倒了核桃車子 / 倒了核桃车子
* 做得了
* 兜肚斷了帶子 / 兜肚断了带子
* 兵馬司倒了牆 / 兵马司倒了墙
* 冒了
* 出了月
* 前人撒土迷了後人的眼 / 前人撒土迷了后人的眼
* 吃了秤砣
* 吃了蜜蜂兒屎似的 / 吃了蜜蜂儿屎似的
* 吃傷了 / 吃伤了
* 吃飯別忘了種穀人 / 吃饭别忘了种谷人
* 吃飽了飯撐的 / 吃饱了饭撑的
* 呆了一呆
* 周郎妙計高天下，賠了夫人又折兵 / 周郎妙计高天下，赔了夫人又折兵
* 哄了一日是兩晌 / 哄了一日是两晌
* 壞了 / 坏了
* 壞了性命 / 坏了性命
* 天塌了有地接著
* 好了瘡口忘了痛 / 好了疮口忘了痛
* 好心倒做了驢肝肺 / 好心倒做了驴肝肺
* 媒人婆迷了路
* 學了個不留 / 学了个不留
* 完了
* 寧可無了有，不可有了無 / 宁可无了有，不可有了无
* 封了火
* 對了 / 对了 (duìle)
* 對了檻兒 / 对了槛儿
* 屁出了掩臀
* 屁股大弔了心 / 屁股大吊了心
* 巧了
* 幹上了 / 干上了
* 幹了 / 干了
* 弄了個魚頭來拆 / 弄了个鱼头来拆
* 弄擰了 / 弄拧了
* 得了
* 得了些顏色就開起染房來 / 得了些颜色就开起染房来
* 從雲端栽了下來 / 从云端栽了下来
* 心涼了半截 / 心凉了半截
* 心高遮了太陽 / 心高遮了太阳
* 忙了手腳 / 忙了手脚
* 慌了手腳 / 慌了手脚
* 慌了神兒 / 慌了神儿
* 戤米囤餓殺了 / 戤米囤饿杀了
* 打了一個悶雷 / 打了一个闷雷
* 打了個千兒 / 打了个千儿
* 打了個寒噤 / 打了个寒噤
* 打了個照面 / 打了个照面
* 打了個盹兒 / 打了个盹儿
* 打了個落花流水 / 打了个落花流水
* 打了偏手
* 打了半跪
* 打了牙肚裡嚥 / 打了牙肚里咽
* 打老鼠傷了玉瓶 / 打老鼠伤了玉瓶
* 把上了
* 把定了心
* 拉了
* 拔了一個尖兒 / 拔了一个尖儿
* 拔了蘿蔔地皮寬 / 拔了萝卜地皮宽
* 拼了 (pīnle)
* 捏了一把冷汗
* 捏了一把汗
* 掰了
* 掛了幌子 / 挂了幌子
* 推倒了油瓶不扶
* 撂了
* 擰了 / 拧了
* 擺了一道 / 摆了一道
* 攤了事 / 摊了事
* 攤了人命 / 摊了人命
* 放了屁兒卻使手掩 / 放了屁儿却使手掩
* 新娘進了房，媒人扔過牆 / 新娘进了房，媒人扔过墙
* 春凳折了靠背兒 / 春凳折了靠背儿
* 有了 (yǒu le)
* 有了人家
* 有了存孝，不顯彥章 / 有了存孝，不显彦章
* 有個地洞鑽了下去 / 有个地洞钻了下去
* 槓上了 / 杠上了 (gàngshàngle)
* 橫了心 / 横了心
* 毛了
* 毛了手腳 / 毛了手脚
* 沒了 / 没了
* 沒了主意 / 没了主意
* 沒了指望 / 没了指望
* 沒了法 / 没了法
* 沒了王的蜜蜂 / 没了王的蜜蜂
* 沒了經緯 / 没了经纬
* 沒有長羽毛就忘了根本 / 没有长羽毛就忘了根本
* 涼了 / 凉了
* 涼了半截 / 凉了半截
* 滴了天
* 漏了眼
* 煮熟的鴨子飛了 / 煮熟的鸭子飞了 (zhǔ shú de yāzi fēi le)
* 燒糊了洗臉水 / 烧糊了洗脸水
* 爛了嘴 / 烂了嘴
* 爛了舌頭 / 烂了舌头
* 狼來了 / 狼来了
* 獃串了皮 / 呆串了皮
* 王婆子賣了磨 / 王婆子卖了磨
* 看上了
* 看中了
* 看出了神
* 看終了 / 看终了
* 瞎了眼
* 矮了半截
* 砸了
* 破了臉 / 破了脸
* 破風箏，抖起來了 / 破风筝，抖起来了
* 碰了
* 磨了半截舌頭 / 磨了半截舌头
* 算了 (suànle)
* 結了 / 结了 (jiéle)
* 罷了 / 罢了
* 老虎生了翅膀一般
* 聽了風就是雨 / 听了风就是雨 (tīng le fēng jiù shì yǔ)
* 肐膊折了往袖子裡藏 / 肐膊折了往袖子里藏
* 背了時 / 背了时
* 臉上掛了招牌 / 脸上挂了招牌
* 臉都綠了 / 脸都绿了
* 落了
* 落了灶
* 葷油蒙了心 / 荤油蒙了心
* 蒼蠅掐了頭 / 苍蝇掐了头
* 蝨多了不咬，債多了不愁 / 虱多了不咬，债多了不愁
* 見了和尚罵賊禿 / 见了和尚骂贼秃
* 見了新人忘舊人 / 见了新人忘旧人
* 認了 / 认了
* 說合了蓋兒了 / 说合了盖儿了
* 說溜了嘴 / 说溜了嘴
* 說白了 / 说白了 (shuōbáile)
* 貓兒見了魚鮮飯 / 猫儿见了鱼鲜饭
* 賣了兒子招女婿 / 卖了儿子招女婿
* 賠了夫人又折兵 / 赔了夫人又折兵 (péi le fūrén yòu zhébīng)
* 賣荳腐點了河灘地 / 卖豆腐点了河滩地
* 走了大褶兒 / 走了大褶儿
* 走了風聲 / 走了风声
* 走了馬腳 / 走了马脚
* 跌了彈的斑鳩 / 跌了弹的斑鸠
* 跟了人
* 躲了雷公，遇了霹靂 / 躲了雷公，遇了霹雳
* 躲過了風暴又遇了雨 / 躲过了风暴又遇了雨
* 近視眼生了瞎子 / 近视眼生了瞎子
* 迷了心竅 / 迷了心窍
* 過了 / 过了
* 過了這個村兒，沒這個店兒 / 过了这个村儿，没这个店儿
* 過了青春無少年 / 过了青春无少年
* 過折了 / 过折了
* 酷斃了 / 酷毙了
* 銅盆撞了鐵掃帚 / 铜盆撞了铁扫帚
* 鋸了嘴的葫蘆 / 锯了嘴的葫芦
* 鐵了心 / 铁了心
* 關了釘兒 / 关了钉儿
* 陰了信的炮 / 阴了信的炮
* 陪了夫人又折兵
* 離了靛缸，染不著顏色 / 离了靛缸，染不著颜色
* 難住了 / 难住了
* 露出了狐狸尾巴
* 頂梁骨走了真魂
* 風吹砂子迷了眼 / 风吹砂子迷了眼
* 風箏斷了線 / 风筝断了线
* 鬆了一口氣 / 松了一口气
* 鬧了半天鬼 / 闹了半天鬼
* 鬧擰了 / 闹拧了
* 鬼迷了張天師 / 鬼迷了张天师
* 鱉了一肚子的悶氣 / 鳖了一肚子的闷气
* 麻了花兒 / 麻了花儿
* 黃鷹抓住了鷂子的腳 / 黄鹰抓住了鹞子的脚
* 龍鬥虎傷，苦了小獐 / 龙斗虎伤，苦了小獐

#### Pronunciation 2

* Mandarin
    (Standard)
       (Pinyin): liǎo (liao$^3$)
       (Zhuyin): ㄌㄧㄠˇ
    (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): niao$^3$
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): liu$^5$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): liau$^2$
* Gan (Wiktionary): lieu$^3$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): liáu
    (Hailu, HRS): liau$^ˊ$
    (Meixian, Guangdong): liau$^3$
* Jin (Wiktionary): liau$^2$
* Eastern Min (BUC): liēu
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): lieo$^3$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): liáu
    (Teochew, Peng'im): liou$^2$ / liao$^2$
* Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): $^6$liau
* Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): liau$^3$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: liǎo
*** Zhuyin: ㄌㄧㄠˇ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: liǎo
*** Wade–Giles: liao$^3$
*** Yale: lyǎu
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: leau
*** Palladius: ляо (ljao)
*** Sinological IPA : /li̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴/
** (Chengdu)
*** Sichuanese Pinyin: niao$^3$
*** Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: liao
*** Sinological IPA : /niau⁵³/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: liu$^5$
*** Yale: líuh
*** Cantonese Pinyin: liu$^5$
*** Guangdong Romanization: liu$^5$
*** Sinological IPA : /liːu̯¹³/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: liau$^2$
*** Sinological IPA : /liau⁵⁵/
* Gan
** (Nanchang)
*** Wiktionary: lieu$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /liɛu²¹³/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: liáu
*** Hakka Romanization System: liau$^ˋ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: liau$^3$
*** Sinological IPA: /li̯au̯³¹/
** (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
*** Hakka Romanization System: liau$^ˊ$
*** Sinological IPA: /liau²⁴/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: liau$^3$
*** Sinological IPA: /liau³¹/
* Jin
** (Taiyuan)
*** Wiktionary: liau$^2$
*** Sinological IPA (old-style): /liau⁵³/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: liēu
*** Sinological IPA : /l̃ieu³³/
* Puxian Min
** (Putian)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: lieo$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /lieu⁴⁵³/
** (Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: lieo$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /lieu³³²/
* Southern Min
** (Hokkien)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: liáu
*** Tâi-lô: liáu
*** Phofsit Daibuun: liao
*** IPA (Xiamen): /liau⁵³/
*** IPA (Quanzhou): /liau⁵⁵⁴/
*** IPA (Zhangzhou): /liau⁵³/
*** IPA (Taipei): /liau⁵³/
*** IPA (Kaohsiung): /liau⁴¹/
** (Teochew)
*** Peng'im: liou$^2$ / liao$^2$
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: lióu / liáu
*** Sinological IPA : /liou⁵²/, /liau⁵²/
* Wu
** (Northern: Shanghai)
*** Wugniu: $^6$liau
*** MiniDict: liau$^去$
*** Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): $^3$liau
*** Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /liɔ²³/
* Xiang
** (Changsha)
*** Wiktionary: liau$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /li̯ɒu̯⁴¹/
* Middle Chinese: lewX
Rime :
| Character | 了 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| Initial (聲) | 來 (37) |
| Final (韻) | 蕭 (93) |
| Tone (調) | Rising (X) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | IV |
| Fanqie | 盧鳥切 |
| Baxter | lewX |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /leu$^X$/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /leu$^X$/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /leu$^X$/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /lɛw$^X$/ |
| Li Rong | /leu$^X$/ |
| Wang Li | /lieu$^X$/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /lieu$^X$/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | liǎo |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | liu$^5$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Zhengzhang): /*reːwʔ/
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 了 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| No. | 8067 |
| Phonetic component | 了 |
| Rime group | 宵 |
| Rime subdivision | 2 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 了 |
| Old Chinese | /*reːwʔ/ |

##### Definitions

了
* to be finished; to be completed
* to end; to finish
       zhōngyú liǎo le yī zhuāng xīnshì [Pinyin]
       At last, the problem was solved.
       faai$^3$ di$^1$ liu$^5$ zo$^2$ gin$^6$ si$^6$ keoi$^5$ syun$^3$ [Jyutping]
       At last, the problem was solved.
* to understand; to comprehend
    了解 ― liǎojiě ― to understand; to realize
* clear; plain; understandable
* bright; intelligent; smart
* (in negative sentences) completely; utterly; entirely
* Used with 不 (bù) or 得 (de) after verbs to express possibility.
* (Hokkien) to use up; to lose; to waste; to squander

###### Synonyms

| Variety | Location | Words |
| Classical Chinese | Classical Chinese | 靡 |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 浪費, 靡費 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 糟蹋, 糟踐 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 浪費, 糟蹋 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Harbin | 糟踐 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 浪費 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Jinan | 糟蹋, 糟踐 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xi'an | 糟蹋 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu | 糟蹋, 拋撒 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Wuhan | 糟蹋, 拋撒 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Yangzhou | 作蹋 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Hefei | 糟蹋 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 嘥, 嘥撻 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 嘥 |
| Cantonese | Taishan | 嘥 |
| Cantonese | Kaiping (Chikan) | 嘥 |
| Cantonese | Dongguan | 嘥 |
| Cantonese | Yangjiang | 嘥 |
| Cantonese | Singapore (Guangfu) | 嘥 |
| Gan | Nanchang | 糟蹋 |
| Hakka | Meixian | 浪撇 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (N. Sixian) | 打爽 |
| Hakka | Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) | 打爽, 浪核 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) | 打爽 |
| Hakka | Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) | 打爽 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) | 打爽 |
| Hakka | Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) | 打爽 |
| Jin | Taiyuan | 糟蹋 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou | 糟蹋 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou | 敗, 作蹋 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 拍損, 仄挩 |
| Southern Min | Quanzhou | 拍損, 仄挩 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou | 拍損 |
| Southern Min | Tainan | 拍損, 仄挩 |
| Southern Min | Penang (Hokkien) | 損 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 拍損, 了 |
| Southern Min | Manila (Hokkien) | 仄挩, 了 |
| Southern Min | Chaozhou | 噠浪 |
| Southern Min | Jieyang | 噠浪 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Teochew) | 拍損 |
| Wu | Suzhou | 糟蹋 |
| Wu | Wenzhou | 糟, 殘嘈 |
| Xiang | Changsha | 糟蹋 |
| Xiang | Shuangfeng | 糟蹋 |

##### Compounds

* 一了
* 一了心願 / 一了心愿
* 一了百了 (yīliǎobǎiliǎo)
* 一了百當 / 一了百当
* 一目了然 (yīmùliǎorán)
* 一走了之 (yīzǒuliǎozhī)
* 七了八當 / 七了八当
* 下不了臺 / 下不了台
* 上不了臺面 / 上不了台面
* 不了 (bùliǎo)
* 不了之局
* 不了了之 (bùliǎoliǎozhī)
* 不了了當 / 不了了当
* 不了情
* 不了漢 / 不了汉
* 不了解
* 不得了 (bùdéliǎo)
* 不是了處 / 不是了处
* 不甚了了 (bùshènliǎoliǎo)
* 了不得
* 了不成
* 了不起 (liǎobùqǐ)
* 了了 (liǎoliǎo)
* 了事 (liǎoshì)
* 了事環 / 了事环
* 了亮
* 了債 / 了债
* 了兒 / 了儿
* 了劣
* 了卻 / 了却 (liǎoquè)
* 了如指掌 (liǎorúzhǐzhǎng)
* 了局 (liǎojú)
* 了帳 / 了帐
* 了得 (liǎodé)
* 了得了
* 了悟 (liǎowù)
* 了手
* 了收
* 了斷 / 了断 (liǎoduàn)
* 了案
* 了決 / 了决
* 了清
* 了無 / 了无 (liǎowú)
* 了然 (liǎorán)
* 了然不惑
* 了無新意 / 了无新意
* 了無牽掛 / 了无牵挂 (liǎowúqiānguà)
* 了無生機 / 了无生机
* 了無生趣 / 了无生趣
* 了無罣礙 / 了无罣碍
* 了畢 / 了毕
* 了當 / 了当 (liǎodàng)
* 了當不得 / 了当不得
* 了納 / 了纳
* 了結 / 了结 (liǎojié)
* 了落
* 了解 (liǎojiě)
* 了訖 / 了讫
* 了話 / 了话
* 了語 / 了语
* 了賬 / 了账
* 了身達命 / 了身达命
* 了願 / 了愿
* 了鳥 / 了鸟
* 便了 (biànliǎo)
* 做得了
* 光了了
* 免不了 (miǎnbùliǎo)
* 公了 (gōngliǎo)
* 千了百當 / 千了百当
* 受不了 (shòubùliǎo)
* 受得了 (shòudeliǎo)
* 可了不得
* 吃不了
* 吃不了，兜著走 (chī bùliǎo dōu zhe zǒu)
* 大不了 (dàbùliǎo)
* 好了歌
* 完了
* 小時了了，大未必佳 / 小时了了，大未必佳
* 少不了 (shàobuliǎo)
* 幹了 / 干了
* 幹得了 / 干得了
* 待不了
* 得了
* 怎麼得了 / 怎么得了 (zěnme déliǎo)
* 拿不了
* 敷衍了事 (fūyǎnliǎoshì)
* 明了 (míngliǎo)
* 末了 (mòliǎo)
* 未了 (wèiliǎo)
* 未了公案
* 未了因
* 未了情
* 末末了
* 棺材出了討挽歌郎錢 / 棺材出了讨挽歌郎钱
* 死不了
* 比不了
* 決了 / 决了
* 沒了期 / 没了期
* 沒了當 / 没了当
* 沒了結處 / 没了结处
* 沒了落 / 没了落
* 沒完沒了 / 没完没了 (méiwánméiliǎo)
* 無了無休 / 无了无休
* 狗改不了吃屎 (gǒu gǎi bùliǎo chī shǐ)
* 玄了
* 白了了
* 百了千當 / 百了千当
* 直截了當 / 直截了当 (zhíjiéliǎodàng)
* 直接了當 / 直接了当 (zhíjiēliǎodàng)
* 直捷了當 / 直捷了当 (zhíjiéliǎodàng)
* 知了 (zhīliǎo)
* 短不了
* 私了 (sīliǎo)
* 秦吉了 (qínjíliǎo)
* 算不了
* 簡截了當 / 简截了当
* 終了 / 终了 (zhōngliǎo)
* 罷了 / 罢了
* 聰了 / 聪了
* 脆快了當 / 脆快了当
* 臨了 / 临了 (línliǎo)
* 自了 (zìliǎo)
* 草草了事 (cǎocǎoliǎoshì)
* 訖了 / 讫了
* 走了和尚走不了廟 / 走了和尚走不了庙
* 足了十人
* 跑不了
* 跑了和尚跑不了廟 / 跑了和尚跑不了庙
* 躲不了
* 道不了
* 遠水救不了近火 / 远水救不了近火 (yuǎnshuǐjiùbùliǎojìnhuǒ)
* 還了得 / 还了得

### Etymology 2

* For pronunciation and definitions of 了 – see 尞 (“ancient offering involving burning wood; etc.”). (This character is the second-round simplified form of 尞).
* Notes:Simplified Chinese is mainly used in Mainland China, Malaysia, and Singapore.Traditional Chinese is mainly used in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

### Etymology 3

* For pronunciation and definitions of 了 – see 潦. (This character is the second-round simplified form of 潦).
* Notes:Simplified Chinese is mainly used in Mainland China, Malaysia, and Singapore.Traditional Chinese is mainly used in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

## Japanese
### Kanji

(Jōyō kanji)
* to end

#### Readings

* Go-on: りょう (ryō, Jōyō)
* Kan-on: りょう (ryō, Jōyō)
* Kun: おえる (oeru, 了える)、おわる (owaru, 了わる)、しまう (shimau, 了う)、ついに (tsuini, 了に)
* Nanori: さとる (satoru)

#### Compounds

* 完(かん)了(りょう) (kanryō)
* 終(しゅう)了(りょう) (shūryō)
* 未(み)了(りょう) (miryō)
* 了(りょう)解(かい) (ryōkai)
* 了(りょう)承(しょう) (ryōshō)

### Etymology 1

* Kanji in this term
* 了
* りょう Grade: S
* on'yomi

#### Noun

了(りょう) • (ryō)
* end
* (art works): concluded

### Etymology 2

* Kanji in this term
* 了
* さとる Grade: S
* nanori

#### Proper noun

了(さとる) • (Satoru)
* a male given name

## Korean
### Hanja

了 (eumhun 마칠 료 (machil ryo), word-initial (South Korea) 마칠 요 (machil yo))
* hanja form of 료/요 (“finish, complete”)

## Vietnamese
### Han character

了: Hán Việt readings: liễu (盧(lô)鳥(điểu)切(thiết)), kiết
了: Nôm readings: lểu, lẽo, liễu, lẻo, léo, líu, lếu, sáu, lèo, tréo
* This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

### References

* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Nguyễn (2014).
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 Nguyễn et al. (2009).
* 1 2 3 4 Trần (2004).
* 1 2 3 4 Hồ (1976).
* 1 2 Taberd & Pigneau de Béhaine (1838).