已经
How to Understand
已经 is an adverb meaning 'already' or 'by now,' indicating that something has happened before the present moment. It emphasizes completion or a change in state, often used to show that an action or condition has been fulfilled.
The character 已 (yǐ) originally meant 'already' or 'finished,' and 经 (jīng) comes from the word for 'classic' or 'experience.' Together, they form a term that conveys the idea of something being completed or having occurred over time.
已经 is commonly used in daily conversations to express that something has already been done, such as in statements like 'I have already eaten.' It can also be used to indicate that a situation has changed, such as 'It's already raining.' Understanding its use helps learners grasp the nuance of time and completion in Chinese.