都 dōu / dū — all; both (if two things are involved); entirely (due to)each; even; already; (surname)
我们都喜欢音乐。Wǒ men dōu xǐ huan yīn yuè.We all like music.
Common words: 首都 (shǒu dū)、全都 (quán dōu)、大都 (dà dōu)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "already"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "already", including 都 (dōu / dū), 已 (yǐ), 曾 (céng / zēng), 既 (jì), 尝 (cháng). Study pinyin, English meanings…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "already" covers 5 different Chinese characters — 都 (dōu / dū), 已 (yǐ), 曾 (céng / zēng), 既 (jì), 尝 (cháng) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 5 characters do not share a sound — their readings span dōu, dū, yǐ, céng, zēng, jì, and more — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 都 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 都 dōu / dūall; both (if two things are involved); entirely (due to)each; even; already; (surname)Useful words: 首都, 全都
- 已 yǐalready; to stop; then; afterwardsUseful words: 已经, 早已
- 曾 céng / zēng(refers to something that happened previously); already; at some time in the past; before; once; (surname)Useful words: 曾经, 不曾
- 既 jìalready; since; both... (and...)Useful words: 既然, 一如既往
- 尝 chángindicator of past tense; to taste; flavor; already; ever; onceUseful words: 尝试, 品尝
Common words for these 5 "already" characters
Anchor each of these 5 characters in a word you can picture — start with 都 (dōu / dū) — so "already" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
首都shǒu dūcapital (city)全都quán dōuall; without exception大都dà dōufor the most part; on the whole已经yǐ jīngalready早已zǎo yǐfor a long time; long since; (dialect) in the past而已ér yǐthat's all; nothing more曾经céng jīngonce; already; former; previously不曾bù cénghasn't yet; hasn't ever似曾相识sì céng xiāng shídéjà vu (the experience of seeing exactly the same situation a second time); seemingly familiar; apparently already acquainted既然jì ránsince; as; this being the case
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 5 ways to say "already".
已 yǐ — already; to stop; then; afterwards
时间已经不早了。Shí jiān yǐ jīng bù zǎo le.It is already getting late.
Common words: 已经 (yǐ jīng)、早已 (zǎo yǐ)、而已 (ér yǐ)
曾 céng / zēng — (refers to something that happened previously); already; at some time in the past; before; once; (surname)
我曾经去过那座城市。Wǒ céng jīng qù guò nà zuò chéng shì.I have been to that city before.
Common words: 曾经 (céng jīng)、不曾 (bù céng)、似曾相识 (sì céng xiāng shí)
既 jì — already; since; both... (and...)
这家餐厅既干净又便宜。Zhè jiā cān tīng jì gān jìng yòu pián yi.This restaurant is both clean and cheap.
Common words: 既然 (jì rán)、一如既往 (yī rú jì wǎng)、既是 (jì shì)
尝 cháng — indicator of past tense; to taste; flavor; already; ever; once
你尝一尝这道菜，味道怎么样？Nǐ cháng yi cháng zhè dào cài, wèi dào zěn me yàng?Taste this dish; how does it taste?
Common words: 尝试 (cháng shì)、品尝 (pǐn cháng)、何尝 (hé cháng)
All 5 characters
Open 都、已、曾 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.