已

• Pinyin: yǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 已 = evolved from a pictograph of a foetus or a plough; now a simple character with no decomposable radicals

Meaning

Already. A literary adverb indicating that an action or state has been completed.

A formal or literary equivalent of 已经, primarily used in written Chinese and set phrases. It appears frequently in news, official documents, and literary texts. In everyday speech, 已经 is strongly preferred. Common in fixed expressions like 已知 (already known) and 已完成 (already completed).

Examples

1. 比赛已开始，请大家安静。 The competition has begun; please be quiet.
2. 这件事情我已知道了。 I already know about this matter.
3. 报名时间已过，不能再报名了。 The registration period has passed; you can no longer sign up.

Usage Guide

Context: writing, news, official

Tone: formal

Do Say

• 任务已完成。(The task has been completed.)
• 问题已解决。(The problem has been resolved.)

Don't Say

• 我已吃饭了。(In casual speech, don't use 已 alone — say 已经吃了 instead. 已 on its own sounds too literary for everyday conversation.)

Origin & History

An ancient character originally meaning 'to stop' or 'to cease', which evolved into the meaning of 'already' — something that has ceased to be in progress because it is complete.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal