<p>In general, the word 到 indicates some form of completion:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>我找到了我的鞋子<br>
  I found my shoes</p>
</blockquote>

<p>or </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>我收到了他的信<br>
  I received his letter</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In both cases, some action began (searching and sending, respectively) which then came to a completion (finding and receiving, respectively).</p>

<p>Thus, the statement 我收了他的钱 implies that you received money, but not through an active, time-consuming process. You just took the money. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-12T04:30:17.730Z
Oh I didn't know I can see the difference from the process. Thanks a lot.
Katrina Koala Huang
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-11T12:19:00.737Z
2018-08-11T12:19:00.737Z
Santana Afton
<blockquote>
  <p>我收到了他的信。/ 我收到他的信了。<br>
  I have received his letter.  </p>
</blockquote>

<p>Here, 收到了 usually indicates that something I received that was sent by other people actively. I just get it passively. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>我收了他的钱。<br>
  I took his money. /  I accepted his money.  </p>
</blockquote>

<p>Here, 收了 just means I get his money. But you cannot tell whether the money is given by him actively or the money is given by my demand/request.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-12T04:32:50.913Z
Oh I didn't know I can think from the actor. Thanks a lot.
Katrina Koala Huang
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-11T11:13:00.477Z
2018-08-12T04:36:22.857Z
2018-08-12T04:36:22.857Z
Bruce Huang
<p>What is the difference between 收了 and 收到了?
1. We say 我收了他的錢
2. But we don't say 我收了他的信, We say我收到他的信了</p>

<p>When do we use 收了 and 收到了? </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-11T11:11:16.983Z
收到钱 has a different meaning from 收钱，see e.g.
bkrs：  **收钱**  receive/collect money/payments (from a customer/etc.)向顾客收钱
charge customers

秘密彩票的收钱人
bagman
 **收到** ：收到一笔钱  receive/obtain/get a sum of money, 收到应得的钱 receive due amount of money, 收到找回的零钱 accept the change
user6065
<grammar><usage><particles>
What is the difference between 收了 and 收到了?
# What is the difference between 收了 and 收到了?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-08-11)

What is the difference between 收了 and 收到了?
1. We say 我收了他的錢
2. But we don't say 我收了他的信, We say我收到他的信了

When do we use 收了 and 收到了?

**Tags:** grammar, usage, particles

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 收到钱 has a different meaning from 收钱，see e.g. bkrs：  **收钱**  receive/collect money/payments (from a customer/etc.)向顾客收钱 charge customers  秘密彩票的收钱人 bagman  **收到** ：收到一笔钱  receive/obtain/get a sum of money, 收到应得的钱 receive due amount of money, 收到找回的零钱 accept the change  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-08-11. Score: 2

In general, the word 到 indicates some form of completion:

> 我找到了我的鞋子  
> I found my shoes

or

> 我收到了他的信  
> I received his letter

In both cases, some action began (searching and sending, respectively) which then came to a completion (finding and receiving, respectively).

Thus, the statement 我收了他的钱 implies that you received money, but not through an active, time-consuming process. You just took the money.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Oh I didn't know I can see the difference from the process. Thanks a lot.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-08-11. Score: 2

> 我收到了他的信。/ 我收到他的信了。  
> I have received his letter.

Here, 收到了 usually indicates that something I received that was sent by other people actively. I just get it passively.

> 我收了他的钱。  
> I took his money. / I accepted his money.

Here, 收了 just means I get his money. But you cannot tell whether the money is given by him actively or the money is given by my demand/request.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Oh I didn't know I can think from the actor. Thanks a lot.  

---

