早就

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

含义

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.'

例句

1. 我早就做完作业了。
2. 他早就到了，你怎么才来？
3. 这本书我早就看过了。

用法指南

语境: everyday, conversation

语气: emphatic

正确说法

• 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.)

错误说法

• 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.)

起源与历史

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

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal