How to Say ‘Was late’ in Simplified Chinese
晚了
wǎn le
[wahn le]
💬 Usage Tip: 晚了 often means "late" as a situation, not just "was late" in the past. You'll also hear it in phrases like 太晚了 — "it's too late."
Phrase Breakdown
晚
wǎn
[wahn]
late
An adjective meaning 'late,' often used when discussing whether a time is suitable.
九点有点晚。
Nine o’clock is a bit late.
了
le
[le]
change-of-state particle
Sentence-final particle showing a new situation or completed change.
下雨了。
It's raining now.
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