Already in Chinese 2 – yǐ and zǎoyǐ

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, 已 yǐ and 早已 zǎoyǐ both convey a sense of “already.” However, 早已 zǎoyǐ specifically emphasizes that something has been done or occurred a long time ago or well in advance.

Structure

已 yǐ

已 yǐ is a shorter form of 已經经 yǐjīng and is often used in formal or written language. It typically appears in more concise statements and is less common in spoken language.

他tā已yǐ婚hūn了le他tā已yǐ婚hūn了le
He is already married.

我的wǒde訊息xùnxí被bèi已讀yǐdú了le我的wǒde讯息xùnxī被bèi已读yǐdú了le
My message has been read.

FYI
The average response time for Taiwanese people is 3.3 hours, which is much shorter than the Western average. In general, under normal circumstances, if it takes more than 12 hours to receive a response, some Taiwanese people might consider it too long and wonder if you don’t want to talk to them. Not responding after reading a message or taking more than 24 hours to reply can even lead to frustration and become a cause for arguments. So, if you have Taiwanese friends or family, remember to reply at least once a day unless you don’t intend to continue the friendship.

我的wǒde心xīn已yǐ死sǐ我的wǒde心xīn已yǐ死sǐ
My heart is already dead.

雨季yǔjì已yǐ過guò雨季yǔjì已yǐ过guò
The rainy season is already over.

這zhè問題wèntí已yǐ解決jiějué这zhè问题wèntí已yǐ解决jiějué
This problem has already been resolved.

早已 zǎoyǐ

It specifically emphasizes that something has been done or occurred a long time ago or well in advance.

他tā早已zǎoyǐ死sǐ了le10 年nián了le他tā早已zǎoyǐ死sǐ了le10 年nián了le
He passed away a long time ago, 10 years ago.

我wǒ早已zǎoyǐ做zuò完wán功課gōngkè了le我wǒ早已zǎoyǐ做zuò完wán功课gōngkè了le
I have long since finished my homework.

爸爸bàba早已zǎoyǐ知道zhīdào這zhè消息xiāoxí爸爸bàba早已zǎoyǐ知道zhīdào这zhè消息xiāoxī
Dad has already known this news for quite some time.

老闆lǎobǎn早已zǎoyǐ計畫jìhuà好hǎo明年míngnián的de旅行lǚxíng老板lǎobǎn早已zǎoyǐ计画jìhuà好hǎo明年míngnián的de旅行lǚxíng
The boss has already planned next year’s trip well in advance.

我wǒ早已zǎoyǐ打定dǎdìng主意zhǔyì要yào去qù台灣Táiwān我wǒ早已zǎoyǐ打定dǎdìng主意zhǔyì要yào去qù台湾Táiwān
I have firmly decided to go to Taiwan a while ago.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ I’ve already told you long time ago.

我wǒ早已zǎoyǐ跟gēn你nǐ說shuō過guò了le我wǒ早已zǎoyǐ跟gēn你nǐ说shuō过guò了le

✔️ He knew this secret a long time ago.

他tā早已zǎoyǐ知道zhīdào這zhè個ge秘密mìmì他tā早已zǎoyǐ知道zhīdào这zhè个ge秘密mìmì

✔️ I don’t want to see you anymore.

我wǒ已yǐ不bù想xiǎng再zài見jiàn你nǐ了le我wǒ已yǐ不bù想xiǎng再zài见jiàn你nǐ了le

• “Already” in Chinese 1 – 已經经 yǐjīng and 都 dōu (HSK 2)