已 (yǐ) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 已 (yǐ) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 已 (yǐ) means "already". It is an HSK Level 2 character, with 3 strokes and the radical 己.

Q: How do you write 已 stroke by stroke?

已 has 3 strokes. The radical is 己. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 已 and 㠯?

已 (yǐ) and 㠯 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 已?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 己. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 已?

Common words containing 已 include: 已经 (yǐ jīng) — already; 已婚 (yǐ hūn) — married; 而已 (ér yǐ) — That's all / Nothing more.

How to Write 已

The character 已 (yǐ) is written with 3 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 己 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

已 is pronounced yǐ in Mandarin Chinese. It means already.

As an HSK Level 2 character, 已 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 已

已经 yǐ jīng

already

已婚 yǐ hūn

married

而已 ér yǐ

That's all / Nothing more

Example Sentences

我已经吃过饭了。

wǒ yǐ jīng chī guò fàn le

I have already eaten.

他是已婚人士。

tā shì yǐ hūn rén shì

He is a married person.

我只是说说而已。

wǒ zhǐ shì shuō shuō ér yǐ

I was just saying.

Similar Characters

㠯 yǐ

己 jǐ

巳 sì

Practice Writing 已 (yǐ)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 已 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 已

What does 已 (yǐ) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 已 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 已 and 㠯?

What mistakes do learners make writing 已?

What common words use 已?

How to Write 已 (yǐ)