Difference between revisions of "Expressing "already" with "yijing""
m (Text replace - "(\r?\n){2}" to "\r\n") |
|||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
− | {{Grammar Box}} | + | {{Grammar Box}} |
+ | |||
+ | 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 == | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Structure === | ||
+ | |||
+ | The most common structure is to use 已经……了 with a verb phrase. | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
+ | |||
+ | 已经 + [Verb Phrase] + 了 | ||
+ | |||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sometimes [[adjective]]s or even [[time noun]]s are used instead of a typical verb phrase: | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
+ | |||
+ | 已经 + Adj + 了 | ||
+ | |||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
+ | |||
+ | 已经 + [Time Noun] + 了 | ||
+ | |||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Examples === | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="liju"> | ||
+ | |||
+ | *我 <em>已经</em> 饿 了 。<span class="expl">(with an adjective)</span><span class="trans">I'm hungry already.</span> | ||
*他 <em>已经</em> 走 了 。 <span class="expl">(with a verb)</span><span class="trans">He has already left.</span> | *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> | *<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> | ||
Line 9: | Line 43: | ||
*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> | *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> | ||
*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> | *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> | + | *<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> |
+ | |||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Negative Form == | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Structure === | ||
+ | |||
+ | The negative structure simply adds a 不 after 已经, and before the verb (or possibly adjective). | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
+ | |||
+ | 已经 + 不 + [Verb Phrase] + 了 | ||
+ | |||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Examples === | ||
+ | |||
+ | Generally this negative 已经 structure is translated into English as "not... anymore" rather than using the word "already." | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="liju"> | ||
*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 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> | *我 <em>已经</em> 不 爱 他 了。<span class="trans">I don't love him anymore.</span> | ||
Line 18: | Line 72: | ||
*你 <em>已经</em> 不 在 Google 工作 了 吗? <span class="trans">You don't work at Google anymore?</span> | *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> | *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> | ||
− | *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> | + | *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> |
− | * [[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] | + | |
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Sources and further reading == | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Books === | ||
+ | |||
+ | *[[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] | ||
+ | |||
+ | *[[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] | ||
+ | |||
+ | *[[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] | ||
+ | |||
+ | *[[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] | ||
+ | |||
+ | === 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]] | ||
{{Similar|"Already" with "dou…le"}} | {{Similar|"Already" with "dou…le"}} | ||
{{Basic Grammar|已经|A2|已经……了|我 <em>已经</em> 做 了 。|grammar point|ASGNXI27}} | {{Basic Grammar|已经|A2|已经……了|我 <em>已经</em> 做 了 。|grammar point|ASGNXI27}} |
Revision as of 08:47, 26 November 2013
-
Level
-
Similar to
-
Used for
-
Keywords
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 is 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
- 我 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 an adjective)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? He is not happy anymore, why are you still making him angry?
- 你 已经 不 年轻 了,你 怎么 还 不 结婚? You're not young anymore, how come you still haven't gotten 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.
Sources and further reading
Books
- 现代汉语八百词(增订本) (p. 612) →buy
- 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)→buy
Dictionaries
- 现代汉语词典(第5版) (p.1609) →buy