Already — an adverb placed before the verb, typically paired with 了 at the end of the sentence to confirm completed or changed states.
概览gàilǎnWhat 已经 Does
语法洞见 yǔfǎ dòngjiàn · Grammar Insight
已经 yǐjīng — 已 yǐ (already; to have completed — a classical particle) + 经 jīng (to pass through; via; already — as in 经过 jīngguò "to pass through"). Together: "already having passed through" — the state has been reached, the process has been completed. The adverb is placed before the verb in Mandarin (unlike English "already," which can go in many positions).
已经 asserts that a state, event, or action has been accomplished before the moment of speaking. It typically pairs with 了 at the end of the clause — the 了 signals the completion or state change that 已经 sets up. But 了 is not always required: with stative verbs or in questions, 了 may be absent.
已经 is an adverb — it modifies the verb phrase, never a noun or adjective directly. Its position: always after the subject but before the verb (and any adverb of degree). If 了 is present in the sentence, it goes at the end of the verb phrase or sentence.
位置wèizhiPosition Rules
基本句型 jīběn jùxíng · Core Position[Subject] + 已经 + [Verb Phrase] + 了
我已经吃了。I've already eaten.
他已经到了。He's already arrived.
她已经学了三年中文了。She has already studied Chinese for three years.
已经 + Verb + 了yǐjīng + V + leHave already [done]; [state] has already occurred
Structure 句型 jùxíng
已经 precedes the verb; 了 follows the verb phrase or closes the sentence. The two work together: 已经 provides the "already" meaning; 了 confirms the completion or change of state. Both can appear together (most common with action verbs) or 了 alone can imply "already" without 已经 (especially in past-tense narratives).
我已经买票了，你不用买了。
Wǒ yǐjīng mǎi piào le, nǐ bùyòng mǎi le.
I've already bought tickets — you don't need to buy any.
火车已经开走了。
Huǒchē yǐjīng kāi zǒu le.
The train has already left.
他已经是大学生了。
Tā yǐjīng shì dàxuéshēng le.
He is already a university student. (state change — no action verb)
语法 yǔfǎ · With Stative Verbs
With stative verbs (是, 有, adjectives used predicatively), 了 confirms a new state rather than completed action: 已经很晚了 "It's already very late" — 很晚 (very late) is a state; 了 signals that this state has now been reached.
已经…了 with Duration or Quantity
When stating duration with 已经 + time expression + 了, the sentence often has two 了:
我已经学了三年中文了。I've already been studying Chinese for three years.
First 了 = action completion marker (after verb) · Second 了 = sentence-final state change
Both 了 are present and grammatically distinct in function.
否定句型 fǒudìng jùxíng · Not Yet
The negative of 已经 is 还没(有) hái méi(yǒu) — "not yet":
我已经吃了。→ 我还没(有)吃。I haven't eaten yet.
他已经来了。→ 他还没(有)来。He hasn't come yet.
Do NOT use 不已经 or 已经不 — use 还没(有) for the "not yet" negation.
还没(有) + Verbhái méi(yǒu) + VNot yet — the negative counterpart of 已经
Structure 句型 jùxíng
还 hái (still; yet) + 没有 méiyǒu (have not). Together: "still have not" = "not yet." The verb that follows is NOT completed — this is the non-completion marker, and no 了 is added. 还没吃 "haven't eaten yet" · 还没来 "hasn't come yet" · 还没准备好 "not ready yet." The 有 in 没有 is often dropped in speech: 还没来 is more common than 还没有来.
作业还没做完，不能出去玩。
Zuòyè hái méi zuò wán, bù néng chūqù wán.
The homework isn't finished yet — you can't go out to play.