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

已 primarily functions as an adverb marking a completed action, visually resembling a partially open form of characters like 己. Its early structural form depicted a fetus or child nearing development, conveying something that has grown, reached completion, or arrived at an end point. This sense of completion established its main grammatical role in indicating the perfect tense, a situation fully situated in the past. It also carries a secondary meaning of stopping or ceasing, which derives from the same core idea of an action reaching its conclusion and halting further progression.

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