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已 yǐ — “already”

How to write and say the Chinese character 已 (yǐ), which means already — with stroke order, audio, its story, and an example sentence. Theme: Can & must.

Pinyin · 拼音 yǐ
Meaning · 意思 already
Strokes · 笔画 3
Radical · 部首 己 (self)
Hear it · 听发音
Watch it drawn stroke by stroke →

Stroke order笔顺

已 is written with 3 strokes, in this order (the red stroke is the one being added):

The story behind it字源小故事

Almost 己 — but the top is closed in: the task is already done. Compare the open 己 (self)!

A common word常用词

已yǐ经jīng

already

Example sentence例句

天tiān已yǐ经jīng黑hēi了le。

It's already dark.

This page is part of the free Chinese character explorer from Casey Foundation Chinese School — a Saturday community Chinese school in Narre Warren, Victoria, serving Berwick, Cranbourne, Hallam and families across Melbourne's southeast. New students get a free trial lesson.