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>
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{{Grammar Box}}  
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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.
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== Basic Pattern ==
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=== Structure ===
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The most common structure is to use 已经……了 with a verb phrase.
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<div class="jiegou">
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 +
已经 + [Verb Phrase] + 了
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 +
</div>
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Sometimes [[adjective]]s or even [[time noun]]s are used instead of a typical verb phrase:
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 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
已经 + Adj + 了
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</div>
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 +
<div class="jiegou">
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 +
已经 + [Time Noun] + 了
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 +
</div>
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=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
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 +
*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>
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*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>\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">
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*<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>
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</div>
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== Negative Form ==
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=== Structure ===
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The negative structure simply adds a 不 after 已经, and before the verb (or possibly adjective).
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 +
<div class="jiegou">
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 +
已经 + 不 + [Verb Phrase] + 了
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 +
</div>
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 +
=== Examples ===
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Generally this negative 已经 structure is translated into English as "not... anymore" rather than using the word "already."
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<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>
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*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>\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 ===
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*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]\r\n[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
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</div>
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== Sources and further reading ==
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=== 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]
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[[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

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.

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.
  • 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.
  • 已经 黑 了 。 (with an adjective)It's already dark.
  • 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?
  • 已经 知道 这 件 事 了 。 (with a verb phrase)I already know about this matter.
  • 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.
  • 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."

  • 已经 不 记得 他 的 名字 了。I don't remember his name anymore.
  • 已经 不 爱 他 了。I don't love him anymore.
  • 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?
  • 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?
  • 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.
  • 已经 不 在 Google 工作 了 吗? You don't work at Google anymore?
  • 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

Dictionaries