already; accomplished fact
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesadverb
already
formalIndicates that a situation has already come to pass. Slightly more formal or literary than 已经.
Shì事
qing情
yǐ已
rán然
rú如
cǐ此
，
hái还
shi是
xiǎng想
kāi开
xiē些
ba吧
。
The situation is already like this, so you might as well look on the bright side.
Tā他
yǐ已
rán然
jué决
dìng定
lí离
kāi开
，
wú无
fǎ法
gǎi改
biàn变
。
He has already decided to leave; nothing can change that.
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Cuò错
wù误
yǐ已
rán然
zào造
chéng成
，
hòu后
huǐ悔
yě也
bù来
jí不
及
。
The mistake has already been made; it's too late for regrets.
verb
to be already so; to be an accomplished fact
formalOften used in formal or classical constructions, particularly in set phrases like '于已然' (in what has already happened), contrasted with '于未然' (before it happens).
Yǔ与
qí其
bǔ补
jiù救
yú于
yǐ已
rán然
，
bù不
rú如
fáng防
zhǐ止
yú于
wèi未
rán然
。
Rather than remedying what has already happened, it is better to prevent it before it happens.
Duì对
yú于
yǐ已
rán然
de的
shì事
shí实
，
wǒ我
men们
zhǐ只
néng能
jiē接
shòu受
。
We can only accept the facts that have already come to pass.
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Chéng承
rèn认
yǐ已
rán然
，
cái才
néng能
zhǎn展
wàng望
wèi未
lái来
。
Only by acknowledging what is can we look to the future.