What does 已 mean in Chinese?

已 (yǐ) means "already" in Chinese. The new HSK exam expects you to recognise it at HSK 2.

How do you write 已?

已 is written with 3 strokes, starting from the 己 (oneself) radical and following standard Chinese stroke order (top to bottom, left to right). See the interactive stroke-order tool for the full animation.

What is the radical of 已?

The radical of 已 is 己 (oneself, Kangxi radical #49). Other common HSK characters using the same radical include 己.

How many strokes does 已 have?

The Chinese character 已 has 3 strokes.

What HSK level is 已?

On the new HSK exam syllabus, 已 is a character to recognise at HSK 2.

已 (yǐ): Meaning, Stroke Order, Radical & Examples

已

yǐ

already

HSK 2 character 3 strokes Radical: 己 (oneself)

Quick Answer

已 (yǐ) means "already" with 3 strokes, radical 己 (oneself), HSK 2 on the new exam.

Full dictionary entry for 已 →Animated stroke-order for 已 →

Pronunciation

yǐ

Meaning

Primary: already

Etymology

A coiled self that has stopped — already

Mnemonic hooks the visual decomposition to a memorable image. The full oracle-bone to modern evolution is being added character-by-character via the Phase 13 etymology pass.

Basic info

Pinyin	yǐ
Meanings	already
Stroke count	3 strokes
Radical	己 (#49: oneself)
New HSK exam	Recognise at HSK 2
Frequency	#589 most common

Example sentences

他已经走了。
Tā yǐjīng zǒu le.
He has already left.
From 已 (HSK 4)
我已经吃过了。
Wǒ yǐjīng chī guò le.
I've already eaten.
From 已经 (HSK 2)
这是不得已的选择。
Zhè shì bùdéyǐ de xuǎnzé.
This is a choice made under compulsion.
From 不得已 (HSK 7-9)

Words containing 已

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
已	yǐ	already	HSK 4
已经	yǐjīng	already	HSK 2
不得已	bùdéyǐ	to act against one's will	HSK 7-9
而已	éryǐ	that's all, nothing more	HSK 7-9

Related characters

Don't confuse with

己

已 (yǐ) ≠ 己

巳

已 (yǐ) ≠ 巳

Share the 己 (oneself) radical

己

See all characters with the 己 radical →

Similar meaning (abstract)

不not 大big 公public 分to divide 对correct 定to decide 方direction 得to get

On the new HSK 2 exam

Studying for HSK 2? Keep 已 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 2 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.

已

yǐ