Difference between revisions of "Expressing "already" with "yijing""
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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. | 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. | ||
| − | == | + | == Basic Pattern == |
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| + | === Structure === | ||
The most common structure to use 已经……了 with a verb phrase. | The most common structure to use 已经……了 with a verb phrase. | ||
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| − | == Examples == | + | === Examples === |
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| − | == Negative | + | == Negative Form == |
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| + | === Structure === | ||
The negative structure simply adds a 不 after 已经, and before the verb (or possibly adjective). | The negative structure simply adds a 不 after 已经, and before the verb (or possibly adjective). | ||
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Generally this negative 已经 structure is translated into English as "not... anymore" rather than using the word "already." | Generally this negative 已经 structure is translated into English as "not... anymore" rather than using the word "already." | ||
Revision as of 10:00, 22 October 2013
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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.
Contents
Basic Pattern
Structure
The most common structure to use 已经……了 with a verb phrase.
已经 + [Verb Phrase] + 了
Sometimes adjectives or even time nouns are used instead of a typical verb phrase:
已经 + Adj + 了
已经 + [Time Noun] + 了
Examples
- 已经 饿 了 。(with an adjective)I'm hungry already.
- 他 已经 走 了 。 (with a verb)He has already left.
- 已经 很 晚 了 ， 我们 走 吧 。(with an adjective)It's already really late. Let's go.
- 天 已经 黑 了 。 (with an adjective)It's already dark.
- 我 已经 有 男朋友 了 。 (with a verb phrase)I already have a boyfriend.
- 你 的 感冒 已经好 了 吗 ？ (with an adjective)Is your cold better already?
- 我 已经 知道 这 件 事 了 。 (with a verb phrase)I already know about this matter.
- 你 已经 很 瘦 了，你 不 能 再 不 吃饭 了 。 (with a verb phrase)You're already really thin. You can't not eat again.
- 我 的 女儿 已经 2 岁 了 。 (with an age)My daughter is already two.
- 我 已经 离开 那 家 公司 了。 (with a verb phrase)I've already left that company.
- 已经 10 点 了，他 为什么 还 没 来 上班？ (with a time)It's already 10 o'clock. Why hasn't he arrived for work yet?
Negative Form
Structure
The negative structure simply adds a 不 after 已经, and before the verb (or possibly adjective).
已经 + 不 + [Verb Phrase] + 了
Examples
Generally this negative 已经 structure is translated into English as "not... anymore" rather than using the word "already."
- 我 已经 不 记得 他 的 名字 了。I don't remember his name anymore.
- 我 已经 不 爱 他 了。I don't love him anymore.
- 他 已经 不 开心 了，你 为什么 还 让 他 生气？ I'm already unhappy. Why are you making me angry?
- 你 已经 不 年轻 了，你 怎么 还 不 结婚？ You're not young anymore. How come you don't get married?
- 我 已经 不 需要 花 父母 的 钱 了。 I don't need to spend my parents' money anymore.
- 在 我 心 里，他 已经 不 重要 了。 In my heart, he's no longer important.
- 你 已经 不 在 Google 工作 了 吗？ You don't work at Google anymore?
- 他 已经 不 打算 去 加拿大 旅行 了。 He's no longer planning to travel to Canada.
- 以前，我 想 去 美国 上 大学，可是 现在 我 已经 不 想 去 了。Before, I wanted to go to the U.S. for college, but now I don't want to go anymore.
