已

yǐ

HSK 3.0 4

Rank #117

Definitions

yǐ (adverb) already; finished

yǐ (verb) to stop; to end

Etymology

Derived from 巳. Depicts a snake-like creature. Based on the original meaning "a type of snake creature". The current meaning "already" is a phonetic loan.

About

The character "已" originated in early Chinese as a verb denoting cessation or conclusion, a usage documented in classical philosophical and historical texts. Its structural form has remained largely consistent, characterized by a closed loop on the left side and a vertical hook, and it does not derive from a more complex traditional variant requiring simplification. Over time, its primary meaning shifted from the active sense of stopping an action to functioning as an adverb that indicates the completion of an event, thereby acquiring its contemporary interpretation as "already". This semantic transition from a concrete verb to a grammatical marker exemplifies a pattern in linguistic development where characters maintain their graphical integrity while their conceptual roles evolve within the language.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他已经走了。

Tā yǐjīng zǒu le.

He has already left.

我已经做完作业了。

Wǒ yǐjīng zuò wán zuòyè le.

I have already finished my homework.

会议已结束。

Huìyì yǐ jiéshù.

The meeting has already ended.

这个问题已解决。

Zhège wèntí yǐ jiějué.

This problem has been solved.

他早已忘记那件事。

Tā zǎo yǐ wàngjì nà jiàn shì.

He had already forgotten that matter.

既然你已经知道，我就不多说了。

Jìrán nǐ yǐjīng zhīdào, wǒ jiù bù duō shuō le.

Since you already know, I won't say more.

那本书已被许多人阅读过。

Nà běn shū yǐ bèi xǔduō rén yuèdú guò.

That book has been read by many people.

尽管已过去多年，他依然记得当时的细节。

Jǐnguǎn yǐ guòqù duō nián, tā yīrán jìde dāngshí de xìjié.

Even though many years have already passed, he still remembers the details of that time.

Components

已