<p>This dictionary definition addresses the use of 了:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>用在句尾或句中停顿的地方，表示感叹的语气.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>E.g. 太好了。</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-01T12:09:42.303Z
Great thank you, but how do I know when I can use this function of it.  Can I go around saying for example, "这个人非常胖了" or even "这个人挺胖了/这个人挺胖的了"?  Is it also grammatical to take away the 了 in this case, so that  I am say "too/really" but without this vague exclamation?
Nmdy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-28T13:22:37.700Z
2022-07-28T13:22:37.700Z
dan
<p>了 can act as a final particle that:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>indicates a sentence is 'completed'</p>
</li>
<li><p>acts as a modal word  (express different emotions depend on the tone of speech)</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>Example:</p>
<p>这人太蠢 doesn't sound like the sentence is completed, we would expect a follow-up like 这人太蠢，怎么学也学不会 or 这人太蠢，竟然不知我在讽刺他</p>
<p>了 in 这人太蠢了 can:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>indicates it is a complete sentence: all you want to say is 'he is very foolish' e.g. 怎么学也学不会，这人太蠢了</p>
</li>
<li><p>acts as a modal word: e.g. it displeases you (with a blunt tone); it surprises you (with a high tone); it disappoints you (with a low tone)</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>了 in '这人太蠢了，怎么学也学不会'  doesn't indicate the sentence has ended, only serves as a modal word, which  can be omitted</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-28T16:47:14.973Z
Those are helpful examples. However, I think the OP wants to know why 这人太蠢 feels incomplete when other similar constructions, like 这人很蠢, are fine on their own. What do you feel 太 lacks that 很/超/非常/etc have?
Sanchuan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-28T16:54:55.230Z
Similarly, we know that 这人蠢 also feels incomplete and would also require a follow-up sentence to feel complete. Would you say that 这人蠢 and 这人太蠢 feel incomplete in the same way or to the same extent? If not, why not (apart from the difference in meaning)?
Sanchuan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-28T17:17:04.003Z
太...了(modal/ final particle) is different from 很...了(change of situation/ complete - e.g. 很大 = very big; (已經)很大了= big enough
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-28T21:38:05.907Z
Thanks for that, but like the OP I just wanted to focus on the function of 了 specifically with 太. I thought we could find that out by comparing 太 to other similar adverbs that do NOT need 了. That is: if both 很 and 太 are adverbs, why is 很+Adj complete on its own whereas 太+Adj needs either 了 or a follow-up sentence?
Sanchuan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-01T12:07:02.017Z
Great follow-ups, yes please, these are exactly what I would like to know as well?  A really helpful answer, but as they say, how am I meant to know when a sentence feels complete/了 is acting to convey mood not one of its more defined functions?  And by this logic, can I just go around adding it to sentences to convey some sort of end - if so, what are the rules with that?
Nmdy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-01T13:44:11.337Z
Additionally, why does 不太 not need the 了 at the end to feel completed?
Nmdy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-28T11:34:03.307Z
2022-07-28T11:34:03.307Z
Tang Ho
<p>I am understanding 太……了 to mean &quot;really/very/too/excessively&quot;</p>
<p>I don't get the sense 了 is either a completed-action or a sentence-end change-of-state - would this be right to assume?  If yes/no, how/why?</p>
<p>To follow on, why then sometimes is 了 not required?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-28T12:31:12.147Z
Similar to your other question, 了 can be omitted without changing the meaning but the tune of speech.
r13
<grammar><particles>
What is function of 了 in 太……了?
# What is function of 了 in 太……了?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-07-28)

I am understanding 太……了 to mean "really/very/too/excessively"

I don't get the sense 了 is either a completed-action or a sentence-end change-of-state - would this be right to assume? If yes/no, how/why?

To follow on, why then sometimes is 了 not required?

**Tags:** grammar, particles

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Similar to your other question, 了 can be omitted without changing the meaning but the tune of speech.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2022-07-28. Score: 1

This dictionary definition addresses the use of 了:

> 用在句尾或句中停顿的地方，表示感叹的语气.

E.g. 太好了。

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Great thank you, but how do I know when I can use this function of it.  Can I go around saying for example, "这个人非常胖了" or even "这个人挺胖了/这个人挺胖的了"?  Is it also grammatical to take away the 了 in this case, so that  I am say "too/really" but without this vague exclamation?  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2022-07-28. Score: 1

了 can act as a final particle that:

1. indicates a sentence is 'completed'
2. acts as a modal word (express different emotions depend on the tone of speech)

Example:

这人太蠢 doesn't sound like the sentence is completed, we would expect a follow-up like 这人太蠢，怎么学也学不会 or 这人太蠢，竟然不知我在讽刺他

了 in 这人太蠢了 can:

1. indicates it is a complete sentence: all you want to say is 'he is very foolish' e.g. 怎么学也学不会，这人太蠢了
2. acts as a modal word: e.g. it displeases you (with a blunt tone); it surprises you (with a high tone); it disappoints you (with a low tone)

了 in '这人太蠢了，怎么学也学不会' doesn't indicate the sentence has ended, only serves as a modal word, which can be omitted

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Those are helpful examples. However, I think the OP wants to know why 这人太蠢 feels incomplete when other similar constructions, like 这人很蠢, are fine on their own. What do you feel 太 lacks that 很/超/非常/etc have?  
> **username_4**: Similarly, we know that 这人蠢 also feels incomplete and would also require a follow-up sentence to feel complete. Would you say that 这人蠢 and 这人太蠢 feel incomplete in the same way or to the same extent? If not, why not (apart from the difference in meaning)?  
> **username_3**: 太...了(modal/ final particle) is different from 很...了(change of situation/ complete - e.g. 很大 = very big; (已經)很大了= big enough  
> **username_4**: Thanks for that, but like the OP I just wanted to focus on the function of 了 specifically with 太. I thought we could find that out by comparing 太 to other similar adverbs that do NOT need 了. That is: if both 很 and 太 are adverbs, why is 很+Adj complete on its own whereas 太+Adj needs either 了 or a follow-up sentence?  
> **username_0**: Great follow-ups, yes please, these are exactly what I would like to know as well?  A really helpful answer, but as they say, how am I meant to know when a sentence feels complete/了 is acting to convey mood not one of its more defined functions?  And by this logic, can I just go around adding it to sentences to convey some sort of end - if so, what are the rules with that?  
> **username_0**: Additionally, why does 不太 not need the 了 at the end to feel completed?  

---

