Definition
已 (yǐ) is a formal, written adverb meaning 'already', often used in set phrases like 已经 (the everyday word for 'already') and 早已. It is more concise and literary than 已经, and is not used alone in casual speech. Unlike 既 (jì), which also means 'already' in formal contexts but can also mean 'both...and...', 已 is only an adverb.
adverb
already
Easily confused
- 一yīsound-alikeone; a (used before measure words)
- 以yǐsound-alike(preposition) by means of; using
- 移yísound-aliketo move, to shift
- 亿yìsound-alike100 million
- 依yīsound-alike(verb) to rely on, to depend on
- 亦yìsound-alikealso; as well
- 乙yǐsound-alikesecond of the ten Heavenly Stems (天干); second in order; B
- 姨yísound-alikematernal aunt (mother's sister)
- 溢yìsound-alike(verb) to overflow, to spill over
- 议yìsound-aliketo discuss; to deliberate
Examples
- 。Tā yǐ jīng lái le.He has already come.
- 。Wǒ yǐjīng chī guo le.I have already eaten.
- 。Wèntí yǐ jīng jiějué le.The problem has already been solved.
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