Both words show that something has already happened — the sentence almost always ends with 了了 le to mark the new situation.
1 已經已经 yǐjīng／都都 dōu + Time + 了 le
Both indicate something has already occurred, but 都都 dōu suggests the speaker’s emotional attitude toward it — surprise, frustration, or complaint.
他已經三十歲了，還沒找到工作嗎？他已经三十岁了，还没找到工作吗？
He’s already thirty years old, hasn’t he found a job yet?
他都三十歲了，還沒找到工作嗎？他都三十岁了，还没找到工作吗？
Has he already turned thirty and still hasn’t found a job? (surprise)
我都等了一個小時了我都等了一个小时了
I have already been waiting for an hour! (complaint)
💡 FYI
已經已经 yǐjīng is a neutral statement of fact. 都都 dōu carries the same meaning but adds the speaker’s feelings — surprise, impatience, or complaint, usually because something has reached more than expected.
They’re not fully interchangeable: 都都 dōu needs that emotional push, so it sounds off in a plain, matter-of-fact statement — and it doesn’t work in the negative “not…anymore” pattern (已經已经 yǐjīng + neg + V + 了 le) further down. Only 已經已经 yǐjīng is used there.
2 已經已经 yǐjīng／都都 dōu + Adj + 了 le
父母都老了，你為什麼不去看他們？父母都老了，你为什么不去看他们？
Both parents are already old, why don’t you go visit them? (frustration)
這個價格已經很便宜了这个价格已经很便宜了
This price is already very cheap.
你給我的咖啡都涼了你给我的咖啡都凉了
The coffee you gave me has already gotten cold. (complaint)
3 已經已经 yǐjīng／都都 dōu + V + 了 le
你已經吃完了嗎？你已经吃完了吗？
Have you already finished eating?
我已經通過HSK2了我已经通过HSK2了
I have already passed HSK2.
他都喝醉了，別再幫他倒酒了他都喝醉了，别再帮他倒酒了
He’s already drunk, don’t pour him more alcohol. (complaint)
4 Negation — 已經已经 yǐjīng + neg + V + 了 le
In the negative form, this pattern is best translated as “not… anymore” instead of “already.”
我已經不愛他了我已经不爱他了
I don’t love him anymore.
爸爸已經沒工作了爸爸已经没工作了
Dad doesn’t have a job anymore.
我們已經不是朋友了我们已经不是朋友了
We’re not friends anymore.
5 Common Mistakes
❌
他已經三十歲他已经三十岁
✅
他已經三十歲了他已经三十岁了
Unlike 才 cái (which never takes 了 le), 已經/都 sentences need the final 了了 le — without it, the “already” meaning isn’t complete.
6 Practice
Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.
01I’ve already told you before.
我都跟你說過了我都跟你说过了
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02I’m already married.
我已經結婚了我已经结婚了
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03I don’t want to see you anymore.
我已經不想再見你了我已经不想再见你了
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04I have already eaten.
我已經吃過了我已经吃过了
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05She’s already 20 years old.
她已經20歲了她已经20岁了
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06It’s already raining.
已經下雨了已经下雨了
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07He’s already asleep.
他已經睡了他已经睡了
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08I’m no longer angry.
我已經不生氣了我已经不生气了
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