How to Say ‘Have been here two years’ in Simplified Chinese
来了两年了
lái le liǎng nián le
[lie luh lyahng nián le]
💬 Usage Tip: Using two 了 means it has been two years and you're still here. With only the first one, 来了两年, it can sound like a stay that's already over.
Phrase Breakdown
来了
lái le
came / have been here
来 (lái) + 了 (le), which shows the action happened. 了 is light and short.
他来了。
He's here.
Words in this phrase
来
lái
[lie]
to come
A verb meaning “to come,” often used when asking if someone has come to an event before.
你常来这样的行业活动吗？
Do you often come to these kinds of industry events?
了
le
[luh]
completed action marker
Shows that an action has happened or a new situation has occurred.
我想了很久，还是决定联系你。
I thought about it for a long time and still decided to contact you.
两年了
liǎng nián le
for two years now
两年 (liǎng nián) means two years. Use 两, not 二, before a measure word. The final 了 means up to now.
我学中文两年了。
I've been studying Chinese for two years.
Words in this phrase
两
liǎng
[lyahng]
two
The form 两 is used before measure words, as in 两个 meaning two of something.
我最近在比较两个工作机会。
I’ve recently been comparing two job opportunities.
年
nián
[nián]
year
A period of 365 or 366 days.
他出生于1980年。
He was born in the year 1980.
了
le
[le]
(change of situation particle)
Placed at the end of a sentence to show a new situation or change of state.
天黑了。
It has gotten dark.
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