已经
already
yǐjīng
What does 已经 mean?
已经 (yǐjīng) is the Chinese adverb for 'already.' It marks that an action or state has been completed or reached by now, and it almost always pairs with the sentence-final particle 了 (le): 我已经吃了 ('I've already eaten'). The 已经…了 frame is a fixed pattern; English learners who drop the 了 sound off, even though grammatically 了 alone can already do the job. 已经 sits BEFORE the verb. It's neutral in register — equally fine in conversation, news, and writing. To negate, use 还没 (hái méi) instead, NOT 不已经. For 'not yet,' say 还没 + verb (+ 呢). Note: in fast speech 已经 is often pronounced yǐjing (neutral tone on 经).
Character breakdown
already; to stop
to pass through; to undergo
Memory hook: Literally 'already passed through' — the action has crossed the finish line. Pair it with 了 like a one-two punch: 已经…了.
Example sentences
我已经吃饭了。
Wǒ yǐjīng chī fàn le.
I've already eaten.
spoken
他已经回家了。
Tā yǐjīng huí jiā le.
He's already gone home.
neutral
已经九点了，我们快走吧。
Yǐjīng jiǔ diǎn le, wǒmen kuài zǒu ba.
It's already nine o'clock, let's hurry.
spoken
她已经学了三年中文。
Tā yǐjīng xué le sān nián Zhōngwén.
She's already studied Chinese for three years.
neutral
Common phrases with 已经
Synonyms
都 can mean 'already' colloquially, especially with time/age (他都八十了 — 'he's already 80'). 已经 is neutral and standard; 都 in this sense is conversational and adds a sense of surprise.
Don't confuse 已经 with
曾经 means 'once / formerly' — past experience that is no longer true. 已经 means 'already' — completed and still relevant. 我曾经去过 ('I went once before') vs 我已经去了 ('I've already gone').
经过 means 'to pass by / through' or 'after (a process).' Different word, different role — verb/preposition, not an adverb of completion.