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liao. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
liao, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
liao in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
liao you have here. The definition of the word
liao will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
liao, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
Borrowed from Hokkien 了 (liáu) or Teochew 了 (liao2). Tone and spelling influenced by Mandarin liǎo.
Pronunciation
Particle
liao
- (Singlish, Manglish) Indicates perfective aspect (action completion) or change of state.
- Synonym: (Singlish, via semantic loan) already
- Print liao. ― I already printed it out.
- Lose liao. ― We’re going to lose / We have lost.
- No more liao. ― There’s no more left.
- They all sleep liao. ― They are all already asleep.
Related terms
See also
- bo liao (unrelated etymologically)
- (Singlish particles): ah, hor, know, lah, leh, lor, mah, meh, one, sia, what
Anagrams
Mandarin
Romanization
liao
- Nonstandard spelling of liāo.
- Nonstandard spelling of liáo.
- Nonstandard spelling of liǎo.
- Nonstandard spelling of liào.
Usage notes
- Transcriptions of Mandarin into the Latin script often do not distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without indication of tone.