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?
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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 Aug 11 '18 at 11:11
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.
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Oh I didn't know I can see the difference from the process. Thanks a lot. – Katrina Koala Huang Aug 12 '18 at 4:30
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.
