Expressing "already" with "yijing"

Level

A2 / HSK2
Level

A2
Level

HSK2
Similar to
- Expressing "already" with just "le" (A2)
- Expressing "already" with "dou" (B1)
Similar to
- Expressing "already" with "dou" (HSK2)
- Expressing "already" with just "le" (HSK2)
Used for

Emphasizing
Keywords

了, 已经

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 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？ 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.