What Does 对了 (duì le) Mean in Chinese?
Traditional: 對了Reviewed context lessonCommon
Oh, right / By the way
Quick answer: What does 对了 mean?
对了 — 对了 introduces something you have just remembered or a related point you want to add.
✓Oh, right!
✓By the way…
✓That reminds me…
What Chinese people actually mean
It can mean “Oh, that’s right” when memory clicks, or “By the way” when a new thought interrupts the current topic. This is different from the simple answer 对, “correct.”
Chinese characters
Open each character to see its own meanings and vocabulary links.
Real conversations
1 · Adding a practical question
A: 我们周六见。
wǒmen zhōuliù jiàn.
A: See you Saturday.
B: 对了，你知道地址吗？
duì le, nǐ zhīdào dìzhǐ ma?
B: Oh, right—do you know the address?
2 · Remembering a birthday
A: 我差点忘了，今天是她生日。
wǒ chàdiǎn wàng le, jīntiān shì tā shēngrì.
A: I almost forgot—today is her birthday.
B: 对了，我们得给她打电话。
duì le, wǒmen děi gěi tā dǎ diànhuà.
B: That’s right. We should call her.
How to pronounce 对了
对了
Tap to hear Mandarin.
When to use it
✓Often comes at the start of a new thought.
✓Can change topic gently without a formal transition.
✓Bare 对 answers “correct”; 对了 often signals a remembered point.
Sources and editorial note
Base dictionary data: CC-CEDICT · CC BY-SA 4.0.Context lesson: Original Chinese Meaning context lesson; examples written for this site.