Already completed actions or states are indicated by '已经'.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Indicates an action or state is completed.
- Used before verbs or adjectives.
- Equivalent to 'already' in English.
Overview
“已经”是一个非常常用的汉语副词，用于表示在某个时间点之前，动作或状态就已经发生或完成。它在日常交流和书面语中都非常普遍，是掌握基础汉语的必备词汇之一。理解“已经”的用法有助于准确表达事情的既成事实和时间上的先后顺序。
“已经”通常放在动词或形容词前面，构成“已经 + 动词/形容词”的结构。例如，“我已经吃过了”（I have already eaten）和“天已经晚了”（It is already late）。它也可以放在主语之后，谓语之前，但这种情况相对较少，例如“他已经来了”（He has already arrived）。在否定句中，常与“不”或“没有”连用，如“还没有”（not yet）或“不已经”（not already，较少用，通常用“还没有”替代）。
“已经”的用法非常广泛，几乎涵盖了生活的各个方面。在描述日常活动时，如吃饭、睡觉、工作、学习，都可以使用“已经”。例如：“我已经完成作业了。”（I have already finished my homework.）在表达时间流逝或变化时也常用，如：“春天已经来了。”（Spring has already come.）在购物、旅游、工作汇报等场景中，也经常用到“已经”来确认某事的完成状态。
与“已经”最常混淆的词是“还 (hái)”和“就 (jiù)”。“还”通常表示动作尚未完成，相当于“still”或“yet”，例如：“我还没吃。”（I haven't eaten yet.）而“就”则可以表示时间早或程度深，有时也表示动作的迅速完成，例如：“他就来了。”（He came very soon. / He is here now.）。“已经”强调的是“already”，表示事情在过去某个时间点之前就完成了，而“还”强调“not yet”，表示事情还在进行中或尚未发生。“就”的用法则更灵活，但也可以表示动作的快速或在预期时间之前发生。
Examples
我**已经**吃过午饭了。
everydayI have already eaten lunch.
会议**已经**开始十分钟了。
formalThe meeting has already started for ten minutes.
他**已经**到了！
informalHe's already here!
该项目**已经**进入了第三阶段。
academicThis project has already entered its third phase.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
为时已晚
it is already too late
已经...了
already...
物是人非
things are the same, but people are different (implies passage of time)
Often Confused With
'还' (hái) means 'still' or 'yet' and indicates an action is ongoing or hasn't happened. '已经' (yǐjīng) means 'already' and indicates completion.
'就' (jiù) can indicate earliness, quickness, or immediacy, sometimes overlapping with 'already' but often with a different nuance of promptness or emphasis.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
The adverb '已经' is very common in everyday Chinese. It typically precedes the verb or adjective it modifies. Ensure you use it correctly to indicate that an action or state has been completed prior to the current moment.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is trying to directly negate '已经' with '不'. Instead, use '还没有' (hái méiyǒu) for 'not yet'. Also, be mindful of the subtle differences between '已经', '还', and '就'.
Tips
Master 'Already' with 已经
Use 已经 to express that something has happened before now. It's a fundamental adverb for indicating completion.
Avoid Direct Negation
Do not typically say '不已经'. Use '还没有' (hái méiyǒu) for 'not yet' to avoid awkward phrasing.
Expressing Accomplishment
Using 已经 often conveys a sense of accomplishment or the passage of time, contributing to natural Chinese expression.
Word Origin
The character '已' (yǐ) means 'already' or 'finished', and '经' (jīng) can mean 'to pass through' or 'time'. Together, '已经' strongly signifies the passage of time leading to a completed state.
Cultural Context
In Chinese culture, acknowledging the completion of tasks or the progression of time is important. '已经' facilitates this by clearly marking when something is 'already' done or has occurred.
Memory Tip
Think of '已经' as 'Yee-jing, it's done!' to remember its meaning of completion.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions“已经”表示某事已经完成，相当于'already'。而“还”通常表示某事还没有完成，相当于'still'或'yet'。例如：'我**已经**吃了' (I have **already** eaten)，'我**还**没吃' (I haven't eaten **yet**)。
“已经”通常放在动词或形容词前面，如“已经完成”。有时也可以放在主语后面，谓语前面，如“他已经来了”。
“已经”很少直接用于否定句。通常用“还没有”来表示“not yet”。例如，与其说“不已经完成”，不如说“还没有完成”。
“已经”强调动作在预期时间或某个时间点之前就完成了（already）。“就”也可以表示动作的快速完成或在预期时间之前发生，有时语气更肯定或强调，例如“他**就**到了”（He arrived very soon）。
Test Yourself
我___吃过晚饭了。
这句话表示晚饭已经吃完，所以用‘已经’最合适。
“他已经到家了。”这句话最可能表示：
“已经”表示动作已经完成，所以“到家”这个动作已经完成，意味着他现在在家。
请用“已经”，“我”，“睡觉”，“了”组成句子。
“已经”作为副词，通常放在动词“睡觉”前面，主语“我”在前面，构成“主语 + 已经 + 动词 + 了”的结构。
Score: /3
Summary
Already completed actions or states are indicated by '已经'.
- Indicates an action or state is completed.
- Used before verbs or adjectives.
- Equivalent to 'already' in English.
Master 'Already' with 已经
Use 已经 to express that something has happened before now. It's a fundamental adverb for indicating completion.
Avoid Direct Negation
Do not typically say '不已经'. Use '还没有' (hái méiyǒu) for 'not yet' to avoid awkward phrasing.
Expressing Accomplishment
Using 已经 often conveys a sense of accomplishment or the passage of time, contributing to natural Chinese expression.
Examples
4 of 4我**已经**吃过午饭了。
I have already eaten lunch.
会议**已经**开始十分钟了。
The meeting has already started for ten minutes.
他**已经**到了！
He's already here!
该项目**已经**进入了第三阶段。
This project has already entered its third phase.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Vocabulary
More general words
一下儿
A1a bit, a moment
点儿
A1a little bit
有点儿
A1a little, somewhat (negative connotation)
一下
A2A bit; a moment (used after a verb).
异样
B1different; unusual; strange
关于
A1about, concerning
快要
A2to be about to (happen)
大约
B1Used to show that a number or amount is not exact; approximately.
上边
A2above, on top
上面
A1on, above, over
