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已 (yǐ) — already (formal, written)

Definition

Formal, written-Chinese adverb for 'already' — almost always paired with 经 as 已经 in speech. Use 已经 in everyday talk; save 已 for formal writing.

adverb
already (formal, written)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Tā yǐ jīng lái le.
    He has already come.
  • 。
    Wǒ yǐ jīng chī guò le.
    I have already eaten.
  • 。
    Wèn tí yǐ jīng jiě jué le.
    The problem has already been solved.

Origin

Pictograph
六书liùshū
象形xiàngxíng

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 已 may originally have been a drawing of either a snake or a fetus.

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 41000 Most Frequent Chinese Words2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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