既

jì

⑤ + 旡

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

jì (adverb) already; since

jì (particle) both... and...

Etymology

Depicts a person, who is full, turning away (旡) from a container of food (皀). Based on the original meaning "finish eating". The meaning later shifted to "complete" and "already".

About

既 consists of 皀, a food vessel, on the left and 旡, a person turning away, on the right. It originally depicted a person who is full turning away from the food vessel, giving the meaning "finish eating". This sense broadened to "complete" and later to "already", so now 既 functions as an adverb or conjunction marking completed actions, equivalent to "since".

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他既聪明又勤奋。

Tā jì cōngmíng yòu qínfèn.

He is both smart and diligent.

她既会唱歌也会跳舞。

Tā jì huì chànggē yě huì tiàowǔ.

She can both sing and dance.

这个问题既复杂又重要。

Zhège wèntí jì fùzá yòu zhòngyào.

This problem is both complex and important.

既然大家都没有意见，我们就按照计划进行。

Jìrán dàjiā dōu méiyǒu yìjiàn, wǒmen jiù ànzhào jìhuà jìnxíng.

Since everyone has no objections, we will proceed according to the plan.

这部电影既有趣又有教育意义。

Zhè bù diànyǐng jì yǒuqù yòu yǒu jiàoyù yìyì.

This movie is both interesting and educational.

他既没有钱也没有时间。

Tā jì méiyǒu qián yě méiyǒu shíjiān.

He has neither money nor time.

既然你诚心诚意地问了，我就坦白告诉你。

Jìrán nǐ chéngxīn chéngyì de wèn le, wǒ jiù tǎnbái gàosù nǐ.

Since you asked sincerely, I will tell you frankly.

既然环境既美丽又安静，我们决定在这里定居。

Jìrán huánjìng jì měilì yòu ānjìng, wǒmen juédìng zài zhèlǐ dìngjū.

Since the environment is both beautiful and quiet, we decided to settle here.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: ⑤

Component: 旡

Example Words