Difference between revisions of "Expressing "already" with "yijing""

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{{Grammar Box}} \r\n已经……了 (yǐjing... le) is the basic pattern used to express "already" in Chinese. Strictly speaking, the 了 here is not absolutely mandatory, but it's usually there in spoken Chinese, so it's best to think of the 了 as a part of the pattern.\r\n== Basic Pattern ==\r\n=== Structure ===\r\nThe most common structure is to use 已经……了 with a verb phrase.\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\n已经 + [Verb Phrase] + 了\r\n</div>\r\nSometimes [[adjective]]s or even [[time noun]]s are used instead of a typical verb phrase:\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\n已经 + Adj + 了\r\n</div>\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\n已经 + [Time Noun] + 了\r\n</div>\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n*我 <em>已经</em> 饿 了 。<span class="expl">(with an adjective)</span><span class="trans">I'm hungry already.</span>
+
{{Grammar Box}}  
−
*他 <em>已经</em> 走 了 。 <span class="expl">(with a verb)</span><span class="trans">He has already left.</span>
+
 
−
*<em>已经</em> 很 晚 了 ， 我们 走 吧 。<span class="expl">(with an adjective)</span><span class="trans">It's already really late. Let's go.</span>
+
已经⋯⋯了 (yǐjīng... le) is the basic pattern used to express "already" in Chinese. It's easy to forget the 了 (le) on the end, but using it will make your Chinese more natural.
−
*天 <em>已经</em> 黑 了 。 <span class="expl">(with an adjective)</span><span class="trans">It's already dark.</span>
+
 
−
*我 <em>已经</em> 有 男朋友 了 。 <span class="expl">(with a verb phrase)</span><span class="trans">I already have a boyfriend.</span>
+
== Basic Usages ==
−
*你 的 感冒 <em>已经</em>好 了 吗 ？  <span class="expl">(with an adjective)</span><span class="trans">Is your cold better already?</span>
+
 
−
*我 <em>已经</em> 知道 这 件 事 了 。 <span class="expl">(with a verb phrase)</span><span class="trans">I already know about this matter.</span>
+
=== 已经 (yǐjīng) with Verb Phrases ===
−
*你 <em>已经</em> 很 瘦 了，你 不 能 再 不 吃饭 了 。 <span class="expl">(with an adjective)</span><span class="trans">You're already really thin. You can't not eat again.</span>
+
 
−
*我 的 女儿 <em>已经</em> 2 岁 了 。 <span class="expl">(with an age)</span><span class="trans">My daughter is already two.</span>
+
==== Structure ====
−
*我 <em>已经</em> 离开 那 家 公司 了。 <span class="expl">(with a verb phrase)</span><span class="trans">I've already left that company.</span>
+
 
−
*<em>已经</em> 10 点 了，他 为什么 还 没 来 上班？ <span class="expl">(with a time)</span><span class="trans">It's already 10 o'clock. Why hasn't he arrived for work yet?</span>\r\n</div>\r\n== Negative Form ==\r\n=== Structure ===\r\nThe negative structure simply adds a 不 after 已经, and before the verb (or possibly adjective).\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\n已经 + 不 + [Verb Phrase] + 了\r\n</div>\r\n=== Examples ===\r\nGenerally this negative 已经 structure is translated into English as "not... anymore" rather than using the word "already."\r\n<div class="liju">
+
The most common structure is to use 已经⋯⋯了 (yǐjīng... le) with a verb phrase.
−
*我 <em>已经</em> 不 记得 他 的 名字 了。<span class="trans">I don't remember his name anymore.</span>
+
 
−
*我 <em>已经</em> 不 爱 他 了。<span class="trans">I don't love him anymore.</span>
+
<div class="jiegou">
−
*他 <em>已经</em> 不 开心 了，你 为什么 还 让 他 生气？ <span class="trans">He is not happy anymore, why are you still making him angry?</span>
+
已经 + [Verb Phrase] + 了
−
*你 <em>已经</em> 不 年轻 了，你 怎么 还 不 结婚？ <span class="trans">You're not young anymore, how come you still haven't gotten married?</span>
+
</div>
−
*我 <em>已经</em> 不 需要 花 父母 的 钱 了。 <span class="trans">I don't need to spend my parents' money anymore.</span>
+
 
−
*在 我 心 里，他 <em>已经</em> 不 重要 了。 <span class="trans">In my heart, he's no longer important.</span>
+
==== Examples ====
−
*你 <em>已经</em> 不 在 Google 工作 了 吗？ <span class="trans">You don't work at Google anymore?</span>
+
 
−
*他 <em>已经</em> 不 打算 去 加拿大 旅行 了。 <span class="trans">He's no longer planning to travel to Canada.</span>
+
<div class="liju">
−
*以前，我 想 去 美国 上 大学，可是 现在 我 <em>已经</em> 不 想 去 了。<span class="trans">Before, I wanted to go to the U.S. for college, but now I don't want to go anymore.</span>\r\n</div>\r\n== Sources and further reading ==\r\n=== Books ===\r\n*[[现代汉语八百词（增订本）]] (p. 612) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]\r\n*[[现代汉语虚词例释]] (p. 554) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B004323J90/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]\r\n*[[New Concept Chinese (新概念汉语　初级本II)]] (p.41)[http://www.amazon.cn/%E6%96%B0%E6%A6%82%E5%BF%B5%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD/dp/B00119AGD0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347862743&sr=8-1 →buy]\r\n*[[Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)]] (都 vs 已经 p. 97)[http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ →buy]\r\n=== Dictionaries ===
+
 
−
* [[现代汉语词典（第5版）]] (p.1609) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/dp/B001B1RZCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693609&sr=8-1 →buy]\r\n[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
+
*他们 <em>已经</em> 走 <em>了</em>。<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">with just a verb</span><span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>yǐjīng</em> zǒu <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">They've already left.</span>
−
{{Similar|"Already" with "dou…le"}}
+
*我 <em>已经</em> 有 男朋友 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">with a verb phrase</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yǐjīng</em> yǒu nánpéngyou <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I already have a boyfriend.</span>
−
{{Basic Grammar|已经|A2|已经……了|我 <em>已经</em> 做 了 。|grammar point|ASGNXI27}}
+
*宝宝 <em>已经</em> 会 说话 <em>了</em>。<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">with a verb phrase</span><span class="pinyin">Bǎobao <em>yǐjīng</em> huì shuōhuà <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">The baby can already speak.</span>
 +
*妈妈 <em>已经</em> 回来 <em>了</em>。<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">with just a verb</span><span class="pinyin">Māma <em>yǐjīng</em> huílái <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">Mom has already come back.</span>
 +
*他 <em>已经</em> 上 飞机 <em>了</em>。<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">with a verb phrase</span><span class="pinyin">Tā <em>yǐjīng</em> shàng fēijī <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">He's already gotten on the plane.</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
=== 已经 (yǐjīng) with Adjectives ===
 +
 
 +
==== Structure ====
 +
 
 +
Sometimes an [[adjective]] or a [[time noun]] is used instead of a typical verb phrase:
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
已经 + (很 +) Adj. + 了
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
==== Examples ====
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
*爸爸 妈妈 <em>已经</em> 老 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Bàba māma <em>yǐjīng</em> lǎo <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">Mom and dad are already old.</span>
 +
*<em>已经</em> 很 便宜 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Yǐjīng</em> hěn piányi <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">It is already very cheap.</span>
 +
*你 女朋友 <em>已经</em> 很 漂亮 <em>了</em>！ <span class="pinyin"> Nǐ nǚpéngyou <em>yǐjīng</em> hěn piàoliang <em>le</em>! </span><span class="trans">Your girlfriend is already very beautiful! </span>
 +
*你 的 感冒 <em>已经</em> 好 <em>了</em> 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de gǎnmào <em>yǐjīng</em> hǎo <em>le</em> ma?</span><span class="trans">Is your cold already better?</span>
 +
*<em>已经</em> 很 晚 <em>了</em>，我们 走 吧。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Yǐjīng</em> hěn wǎn <em>le</em>, wǒmen zǒu ba.</span><span class="trans">It's already really late. Let's go.</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
=== 已经 (yǐjīng) with Time Nouns ===
 +
 
 +
A "[[time noun]]" simply refers to almost any word in Chinese indicating a time something happened.
 +
 
 +
==== Structure ====
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
已经 + Time + 了
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
==== Examples ====
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
*<em>已经</em> 11点 <em>了</em>，女儿 还 没 回来 。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Yǐjīng</em> shíyī diǎn <em>le</em>, nǚ'ér hái méi huílái.</span><span class="trans">It is already 11 o'clock, and my daughter has not returned.</span>
 +
*爷爷 <em>已经</em> 八十五 岁 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Yéye <em>yǐjīng</em> bāshí-wǔ suì <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">Grandpa is already eighty-five years old.</span>
 +
*我 学习 中文 <em>已经</em> 一 年 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xuéxí Zhōngwén <em>yǐjīng</em> yī nián <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I have already been studying Chinese for a year.</span>
 +
*他 在 洗手间 里 <em>已经</em> 半 个 小时 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā zài xǐshǒujiān lǐ <em>yǐjīng</em> bàn gè xiǎoshí <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">He has already been in the bathroom for half an hour.</span>
 +
*爸爸 去 北京 出差 <em>已经</em> 两 天 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Bàba qù Běijīng chūchāi <em>yǐjīng</em> liǎng tiān <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">It has already been two days since dad went to Beijing on business trip.</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
== Negative Form ==
 +
 
 +
=== Structure ===
 +
 
 +
The negative structure simply adds a 不 (bù) after 已经 (yǐjīng), and before the verb (or possibly adjective).
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
已经 + 不 + Verb + 了
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
=== Examples ===
 +
 
 +
Generally this negative 已经 (yǐjīng) structure is translated into English as "not... anymore" rather than using the word "already."
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
*我 <em>已经</em> <strong>不</strong> 喜欢 你 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yǐjīng</em> <strong>bù</strong> xǐhuan nǐ <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I don't like you anymore.</span>
 +
*他 <em>已经</em> <strong>不</strong> 爱 他 的 猫 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>yǐjīng</em> <strong>bù</strong> ài tā de māo <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">He doesn't love his cat anymore.</span>
 +
*他们 <em>已经</em> <strong>不</strong> 住 在 中国 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>yǐjīng</em> <strong>bù</strong> zhù zài Zhōngguó <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">They don't live in China anymore.</span>
 +
*我 <em>已经</em> <strong>不</strong> 需要 父母 的 钱 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yǐjīng</em> <strong>bù</strong> xūyào fùmǔ de qián <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I don't need my parents' money anymore.</span>
 +
*你 <em>已经</em> <strong>不</strong> 在 Google 工作 <em>了</em> 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>yǐjīng</em> <strong>bù</strong> zài Google gōngzuò <em>le</em> ma? </span><span class="trans">You don't work at Google anymore?</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
== See also ==
 +
 
 +
== Sources and further reading ==
 +
 
 +
=== Books ===
 +
 
 +
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|29}}
 +
{{Source|现代汉语八百词（增订本）|612}}
 +
{{Source|现代汉语虚词例释|554}}
 +
{{Source|New Concept Chinese (新概念汉语　初级本II)|41}}
 +
{{Source|Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)|97}}
 +
 
 +
=== Dictionaries ===
 +
 
 +
* [[现代汉语词典（第5版）]] (p.1609) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/dp/B001B1RZCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693609&sr=8-1 →buy]
 +
 
 +
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 +
{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 +
{{Basic Grammar|已经|A2|已经⋯⋯了|他 <em>已经</em> 走 <em>了</em> 。|grammar point|ASGNXI27}}
 +
{{Similar|Uses of "le"}}
 +
{{Similar|Expressing "already" with just "le"}}
 +
{{Similar|Expressing "already" with "dou"}}
 
{{Rel char|了}}
 
{{Rel char|了}}
 
{{POS|Adverbs}}
 
{{POS|Adverbs}}
 
{{Used for|Emphasizing}}
 
{{Used for|Emphasizing}}
 
{{Translation|already}}
 
{{Translation|already}}

Latest revision as of 08:54, 21 April 2021

已经⋯⋯了 (yǐjīng... le) is the basic pattern used to express "already" in Chinese. It's easy to forget the 了 (le) on the end, but using it will make your Chinese more natural.

Basic Usages

已经 (yǐjīng) with Verb Phrases

Structure

The most common structure is to use 已经⋯⋯了 (yǐjīng... le) with a verb phrase.

已经 + [Verb Phrase] + 了

Examples

  • 他们 已经 走 了。with just a verbTāmen yǐjīng zǒu le.They've already left.
  • 我 已经 有 男朋友 了 。 with a verb phraseWǒ yǐjīng yǒu nánpéngyou le.I already have a boyfriend.
  • 宝宝 已经 会 说话 了。with a verb phraseBǎobao yǐjīng huì shuōhuà le.The baby can already speak.
  • 妈妈 已经 回来 了。with just a verbMāma yǐjīng huílái le.Mom has already come back.
  • 他 已经 上 飞机 了。with a verb phraseTā yǐjīng shàng fēijī le.He's already gotten on the plane.

已经 (yǐjīng) with Adjectives

Structure

Sometimes an adjective or a time noun is used instead of a typical verb phrase:

已经 + (很 +) Adj. + 了

Examples

  • 爸爸 妈妈 已经 老 了。Bàba māma yǐjīng lǎo le.Mom and dad are already old.
  • 已经 很 便宜 了。Yǐjīng hěn piányi le.It is already very cheap.
  • 你 女朋友 已经 很 漂亮 了！ Nǐ nǚpéngyou yǐjīng hěn piàoliang le! Your girlfriend is already very beautiful!
  • 你 的 感冒 已经 好 了 吗 ？Nǐ de gǎnmào yǐjīng hǎo le ma?Is your cold already better?
  • 已经 很 晚 了，我们 走 吧。Yǐjīng hěn wǎn le, wǒmen zǒu ba.It's already really late. Let's go.

已经 (yǐjīng) with Time Nouns

A "time noun" simply refers to almost any word in Chinese indicating a time something happened.

Structure

已经 + Time + 了

Examples

  • 已经 11点 了，女儿 还 没 回来 。Yǐjīng shíyī diǎn le, nǚ'ér hái méi huílái.It is already 11 o'clock, and my daughter has not returned.
  • 爷爷 已经 八十五 岁 了 。Yéye yǐjīng bāshí-wǔ suì le.Grandpa is already eighty-five years old.
  • 我 学习 中文 已经 一 年 了 。Wǒ xuéxí Zhōngwén yǐjīng yī nián le.I have already been studying Chinese for a year.
  • 他 在 洗手间 里 已经 半 个 小时 了 。 Tā zài xǐshǒujiān lǐ yǐjīng bàn gè xiǎoshí le.He has already been in the bathroom for half an hour.
  • 爸爸 去 北京 出差 已经 两 天 了 。Bàba qù Běijīng chūchāi yǐjīng liǎng tiān le.It has already been two days since dad went to Beijing on business trip.

Negative Form

Structure

The negative structure simply adds a 不 (bù) after 已经 (yǐjīng), and before the verb (or possibly adjective).

已经 + 不 + Verb + 了

Examples

Generally this negative 已经 (yǐjīng) structure is translated into English as "not... anymore" rather than using the word "already."

  • 我 已经 不 喜欢 你 了 。Wǒ yǐjīng bù xǐhuan nǐ le.I don't like you anymore.
  • 他 已经 不 爱 他 的 猫 了 。Tā yǐjīng bù ài tā de māo le.He doesn't love his cat anymore.
  • 他们 已经 不 住 在 中国 了 。Tāmen yǐjīng bù zhù zài Zhōngguó le.They don't live in China anymore.
  • 我 已经 不 需要 父母 的 钱 了 。Wǒ yǐjīng bù xūyào fùmǔ de qián le.I don't need my parents' money anymore.
  • 你 已经 不 在 Google 工作 了 吗 ？Nǐ yǐjīng bù zài Google gōngzuò le ma? You don't work at Google anymore?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries

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