已

yǐ
HSK 3.0Level 4

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

In modern Chinese, 已 is an adverb meaning 'already', used to denote that an action has already occurred or a state has already been reached. The character traces back to 巳, which depicted a snake-like creature; its present-day meaning arose through phonetic borrowing, while the original sense 'a kind of snake' fell into disuse. Visually, 已 resembles a partially open version of 己, making it easy to confuse but also distinctive once recognized. Beyond its adverbial function, 已 carries the meaning 'to stop', which logically extends from the notion of an action having already ended.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
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.

Example Words

已经 而已 不已 不得已 久已 已婚 已往 已故 已然 已知 业已 死而后已 为时已晚 无已 万不得已 赞叹不已 迫不得已 惊叹不已