既 (jì) — (adverb) already (formal); (conjunction) both...and... — used in 既…又/也… structure

Definition

In the structure 既…又/也… it means 'both…and…' (connecting two qualities or actions), like 都 but emphasizing parallel traits rather than totality. As a written adverb it can mean 'already', similar to 已经 but more formal.

adverb
already (formal)
conjunction
both...and... — used in 既…又/也… structure
Easily confused

Examples

  • 既，。
    Tā jì huì huà huà, yòu huì chàng gē.
    He can both draw and sing.
  • 既。
    Zhè ge cài jì pián yi yòu hǎo chī.
    This dish is both cheap and tasty.
  • 既，。
    Tā jì yǐ dào dá, wǒ men jiù kāi shǐ le.
    Since he has already arrived, we started.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 皀皀jíbowl of rice
  • 旡旡jìkneeling figure

既 combines 皀, a bowl of rice, with 旡, a kneeling figure: a person kneeling at the bowl, having finished eating.

Grammar

Appears in
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