Definition
对了 has two distinct uses. First, as the perfective form of 对 (correct), it appears after a verb to mean 'did it correctly' — e.g. 猜对了 (guessed right), 答对了 (answered correctly). Second, it is a sentence-initial discourse marker used to recall something or introduce a new topic, equivalent to 'Oh, that's right' or 'By the way' in English. The second use often softens the transition in conversation.
v.p.
(used after a verb) correctlyright (as in 猜对了, 答对了)(sentence-initial discourse marker) ohthat's rightby the way
Examples
- 。Zhè cì nǐ zhōngyú dá duì le le.This time you finally answered correctly.
- 对了，。duì le, wǒ wàng le gàosu nǐmen yí jiàn shì.Oh, that's right — I forgot to tell you something.
- ，对了。Tā jiǎnchá le sān biàn, quèrèn méiyǒu xiě duì le.He checked three times to confirm he hadn't written it incorrectly.
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