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Level Advanced Chinese · HSK 5–6

Telling a Story: 着, 了, 过 in Narration, 顿时, 不由得 and 时而…时而

In a story, Chinese doesn't mark every past verb. It uses 了 for the events that move the plot forward, 着 for background states, and leaves the rest unmarked. Getting that balance right, plus a few timing words, is what makes narration sound native.

着, 了 and 过 in narration

Background description takes 着 (zhe): 门开着，桌上放着一封信 (the door was open; a letter lay on the table). Plot events take 了 (le), but not every verb: a chain of quick actions usually only marks the last one, and habitual or ongoing actions in the past take no 了 at all. 过 (guo) refers to an experience before the story's time.

With durations, the position of 了 matters: 我病了三天 (I was ill for three days, now over); 我病了三天了 (I've been ill for three days, still ill).

  • 他推开门，走进房间，在窗边坐了下来。

    Tā tuīkāi mén, zǒujìn fángjiān, zài chuāng biān zuòle xialai.

    He pushed the door open, walked into the room and sat down by the window.

  • 我已经发烧三天了，还没好。

    Wǒ yǐjīng fā shāo sān tiān le, hái méi hǎo.

    I've had a fever for three days now and I'm still not better.

Timing: 顿时, 随即 and 一下子

顿时 (dùnshí) means 'immediately, all at once' for a sudden change of state, in writing: 大家顿时安静下来 (everyone fell silent at once). 随即 (suíjí) means 'immediately afterwards' for the next action. 一下子 (yíxiàzi) is the spoken 'all of a sudden, in one go'.

  • 听到这个消息，教室里顿时热闹起来。

    Tīngdào zhège xiāoxi, jiàoshì li dùnshí rènao qilai.

    When they heard the news, the classroom instantly came alive.

  • 他看了一眼手表，随即离开了会场。

    Tā kànle yì yǎn shǒubiǎo, suíjí líkāile huìchǎng.

    He glanced at his watch and left the hall straight away.

Involuntary reactions and alternation

不由得 (bùyóude), 不禁 (bùjīn) and 忍不住 (rěn bu zhù) all mean 'couldn't help (doing)'. 不禁 is literary; 忍不住 is everyday speech and can take a 了 at the end.

时而 A 时而 B (shí'ér … shí'ér) means 'sometimes A, sometimes B' in quick alternation, in writing. 要么 A 要么 B (yàome … yàome) means 'either A or B' (choose one).

  • 看到这张老照片，她不禁流下了眼泪。

    Kàndào zhè zhāng lǎo zhàopiàn, tā bùjīn liúxiàle yǎnlèi.

    Seeing the old photo, she couldn't hold back her tears.

  • 音乐时而轻快，时而低沉。

    Yīnyuè shí'ér qīngkuài, shí'ér dīchén.

    The music was light one moment and sombre the next.

  • 要么现在走，要么就别去了。

    Yàome xiànzài zǒu, yàome jiù bié qù le.

    Either we leave now or we don't go at all.

Common mistakes

  • ✗小时候我每天了走路去学校。

    ✓小时候我每天走路去学校。

    Xiǎo shíhou wǒ měi tiān zǒu lù qù xuéxiào.

    了 marks completed events, not past habits. A habit in the past takes no aspect marker.

  • ✗他忍不住笑。

    ✓他忍不住笑了。

    Tā rěn bu zhù xiào le.

    In a narrative about one moment, the reaction is an event, so it needs 了 (or 起来).

  • ✗我们顿时去吃饭吧。

    ✓我们马上去吃饭吧。

    Wǒmen mǎshàng qù chī fàn ba.

    顿时 describes a sudden change in a narrative, not a plan or suggestion. For 'right away', use 马上 or 立刻.

Questions learners ask

Do I need 了 on every verb in a past story?

No. Marking every verb sounds mechanical. Mark the key events and let time words and context do the rest.

Is 一下子 the same as 一下?

No. 一下 softens a verb (看一下, have a look); 一下子 means 'all at once, suddenly'.

Practice this in lessons

The Advanced Chinese lessons teach this step by step, with exercises and review built in.

Practice this in lessons →

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