Chinese for Sharing Past Experiences: Parties and Weddings
Learn to talk about past events like parties and weddings in Mandarin. Use 了 and 过 to share experiences, and describe how things were.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In this lesson, you will learn how to talk about past experiences in Mandarin, specifically about parties and weddings. Unlike making plans for the future, sharing past events requires different grammar. You will learn to use the particle 了 to indicate completed actions, and 过 to talk about experiences. You will also learn common phrases to describe events, such as 'The wedding was beautiful' and 'I had fun at the party.' By the end, you will be able to share your own experiences with friends in Chinese.
By the end, you can…
- describe a past party or wedding using 了 and 过.
- ask and answer questions about past social events.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
婚礼很美。
The wedding was beautiful.
Hūnlǐ hěn měi.
Use 很 before adjectives to mean 'very' or simply to link subject and adjective. This is a simple statement about a past event.
我在派对上玩得很开心。
I had fun at the party.
Wǒ zài pàiduì shang wán de hěn kāixīn.
The structure 玩得很开心 means 'had a great time'. 在...上 means 'at' an event.
我参加过他的婚礼。
I have attended his wedding.
Wǒ cānjiā guo tā de hūnlǐ.
The particle 过 indicates a past experience. It suggests you have had this experience at least once.
昨天的派对怎么样？
How was the party yesterday?
Zuótiān de pàiduì zěnmeyàng?
Use 怎么样 to ask 'how was it?' about a past event. 昨天 means 'yesterday'.
我喝了很多酒。
I drank a lot of alcohol.
Wǒ hē le hěn duō jiǔ.
The particle 了 after the verb indicates a completed action. 很多 means 'a lot'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To talk about past events, use the particle 了 after the verb to show completion. For example, 我参加了婚礼 (Wǒ cānjiā le hūnlǐ) means 'I attended the wedding.' If you want to say you had an experience, use 过 after the verb: 我参加过婚礼 (Wǒ cānjiā guo hūnlǐ) means 'I have attended a wedding (at some point).' To describe how something was, use 很 + adjective: 婚礼很美 (Hūnlǐ hěn měi) 'The wedding was beautiful.' Combine these patterns to share your experiences.
When to use it
Use 了 when you want to emphasize that an action was completed, often with a specific time or result. For example, 昨天的派对很热闹 (Zuótiān de pàiduì hěn rènao) 'Yesterday's party was lively.' Use 过 when you are talking about an experience you have had at least once, without focusing on when. For example, 我见过他的新娘 (Wǒ jiàn guo tā de xīnniáng) 'I have seen his bride.' When asking about past events, use 怎么样 to ask for an evaluation: 婚礼怎么样？ (Hūnlǐ zěnmeyàng?) 'How was the wedding?'
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你昨天参加婚礼了吗？
Did you attend the wedding yesterday?Nǐ zuótiān cānjiā hūnlǐ le ma?参加了，婚礼很美。
Yes, I did. The wedding was beautiful.Cānjiā le, hūnlǐ hěn měi.你在派对上玩得开心吗？
Did you have fun at the party?Nǐ zài pàiduì shang wán de kāixīn ma?玩得很开心，我喝了很多酒。
I had a great time. I drank a lot.Wán de hěn kāixīn, wǒ hē le hěn duō jiǔ.A little context goes a long way
In Chinese culture, weddings and parties are often lively events with lots of food and drink. When sharing experiences, it's common to mention the atmosphere (热闹, rènao) and the food. Avoid saying negative things about someone's wedding; it's considered impolite. Instead, focus on positive aspects like the beauty of the ceremony or the happiness of the couple.
One thing to watch for
Using 了 with stative verbs like 是 (to be) to indicate past tense, e.g., 婚礼是美了.
Try this instead: 了 is not used with 是 for past tense. Instead, use 很 + adjective to describe past states: 婚礼很美 (The wedding was beautiful). For past actions, use 了 with action verbs: 我参加了婚礼 (I attended the wedding).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I attended a wedding' using 了?
Show a sample answer
我参加了婚礼。
This uses 了 after the verb 参加 to indicate completed action. Alternative: 我参加了一个婚礼 (I attended a wedding) is also correct.
2Translate: 'Have you ever been to a Chinese wedding?'
Show a sample answer
你参加过中国婚礼吗？
This uses 过 to ask about experience. You could also say 你去过中国婚礼吗？ but 参加 is more precise for attending an event.
3Respond to: 昨天的派对怎么样？
Show a sample answer
昨天的派对很热闹。
This answers with a description using 很 + adjective. You could also say 很好玩 (very fun) or 很无聊 (very boring), depending on your experience.
Use 了 for completed actions and 过 for past experiences. Describe events with 很 + adjective. Practice sharing your own party and wedding stories in Chinese.
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