早就

• Pinyin: zǎo jiù
• Hanzi breakdown: 早 = 日 (sun) + base, depicting sunrise, extended to mean 'early'; 就 = 京 (capital) + 尤 (especially), originally 'to approach,' extended to 'then/already'

Meaning

Long ago; already (a long time ago). Emphasises that something happened or was completed much earlier than expected.

An adverbial phrase combining 早 (early) and 就 (then/already) to stress that an action was completed well before the present moment. Often carries an implication of impatience or emphasis. For example, 我早就知道了 means 'I knew that ages ago.'

Examples

1. 我早就做完作业了。 I finished my homework a long time ago.
2. 他早就到了，你怎么才来？ He arrived ages ago — why are you only just getting here?
3. 这本书我早就看过了。 I read this book a long time ago.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, conversation

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 饭早就凉了，快吃吧。(The food went cold ages ago — hurry up and eat.)
• 我早就跟你说过了。(I told you a long time ago.)

Don't Say

• 我早就明天去。(Don't use 早就 for future actions — it only refers to past events. Say 我明天早点去.)

Origin & History

Combination of 早 (early/long ago) and 就 (then/already), reinforcing the sense of 'already some time ago.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal