HSK 2 grammar · new HSK syllabus
已经…了: already
已经…了 means “already”: 我已经吃饭了. 了 is almost always needed.
Structure
- 已经 + verb (+ object) + 了
- 已经 + time / age + 了
How it works
已经 goes before the verb and is normally followed by 了: 他已经走了.
It also works with times and ages: 已经十点了, 我已经二十岁了.
The opposite is 还没(有)…呢: 我还没吃饭呢.
Examples
-
我已经吃饭了，不饿。
Wǒ yǐjīng chī fàn le, bú è.
I’ve already eaten. I’m not hungry.
-
他已经回家了。
Tā yǐjīng huí jiā le.
He has already gone home.
-
已经十一点了，快睡觉吧。
Yǐjīng shí yì diǎn le, kuài shuìjiào ba.
It’s already eleven. Go to bed.
-
我学汉语已经两年了。
Wǒ xué Hànyǔ yǐjīng liǎng nián le.
I’ve been learning Chinese for two years now.
-
— 你做完了吗？— 还没呢。
— Nǐ zuò wán le ma?— Hái méi ne.
— Have you finished? — Not yet.
Words in these examples (26)
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 已经 | yǐjīng | already | HSK 2 |
| 吃 | chī | to eat | HSK 1 |
| 饭 | fàn | meal; cooked rice | HSK 1 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 不 | bù | not; no | HSK 1 |
| 饿 | è | hungry | HSK 3 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 回 | huí | to return; to go back | HSK 1 |
| 家 | jiā | home; family; (measure word for shops and companies) | HSK 1 |
| 十 | shí | ten | HSK 1 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 点 | diǎn | o'clock; (measure word) a little | HSK 1 |
| 快 | kuài | fast; quick; soon | HSK 2 |
| 睡觉 | shuìjiào | to sleep; to go to bed | HSK 1 |
| 吧 | ba | (particle for suggestions: "let's…", "…, OK?") | HSK 1 |
| 学 | xué | to learn; to study | HSK 1 |
| 汉语 | Hànyǔ | Chinese (language) | HSK 1 |
| 两 | liǎng | two (before a measure word) | HSK 1 |
| 年 | nián | year | HSK 1 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 做 | zuò | to do; to make | HSK 1 |
| 完 | wán | to finish; to be over | HSK 2 |
| 吗 | ma | (question particle for yes/no questions) | HSK 1 |
| 还 | hái | still; also | HSK 1 |
| 呢 | ne | (particle: "what about…?"; also marks an ongoing state) | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗我已经吃饭。
✓我已经吃饭了。
已经 usually needs 了.
-
✗我已经没吃饭。
✓我还没吃饭。
“Not yet” is 还没, not 已经没.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 他 走了，你明天再来吧。
2. 我已经做完作业 。
3. — 他来了吗？— 还没 。