ji5 ging1已經已经

Jyutpingji5 ging1

Yaleyíh gīng

副詞Very common

Definition

Already; indicating that an action is completed, time has passed, or a state has been reached.

ngo5我ji5已ging1經sik6食zo2咗faan6飯。

ngo5我ji5已ging1经sik6食zo2咗faan6饭。

I've already eaten.

colloquialtime

How it's used

Emphasis often shifts to the verb or the state being completed rather than the adverb itself. In casual speech, it is common to drop the 經 and just use 已, or even omit the adverb entirely if the aspect marker 咗 provides enough context for completion. Using it in every instance where English uses 'already' can sound slightly repetitive or overly formal.

Examples

keoi5佢ji5已ging1經sik6食zo2咗faan6飯，m4唔sai2使zoi3再zyu2煮laa3喇。

He has already eaten, no need to cook again.

nei5你ji5已ging1經maai5買zo2咗fei1飛mei6未aa4呀？

Have you already bought the tickets?

Common phrases

ji5已ging1經hai6係

is already

ji5已ging1經gwo3過zo2咗

has already passed

Common mistake

Avoid using it in negative sentences to mean 'not yet', as that requires 仲未 instead. Learners often mistakenly say 已經唔係 when they should use 已經唔係 to indicate a change of state, but for simple negation of an action, 仲未 is the correct counterpart.