已

yǐ
HSK 3.0Level 4
Frequency#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 from an early conceptual form related to cessation, initially carrying the meaning of "to stop". Its structure is a simple, indivisible character that has maintained a consistent graphical form. Over time, the primary semantic function shifted from indicating termination to serving as an adverb meaning "already" in classical Chinese, a usage that became dominant in the modern language. Additionally, it operates as a grammatical particle in set phrases like 而已 to denote limitation or 已矣 to emphasize completion.

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