long ago; for a long time; already
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesadverb
long ago; for a long time; already
formalIndicates that an action or state was completed or true at a point well before the time of speaking. Often carries a sense of "long since". It implies a longer elapsed time than just "已经".
Nǐ你
yào要
de的
dōng东
xi西
，
wǒ我
zǎo早
yǐ已
gěi给
nǐ你
zhǔn准
bèi备
hǎo好
le了
。
I've had what you wanted prepared for you for a long time.
Nà那
ge个
yáo谣
yán言
zǎo早
yǐ已
bèi被
chéng澄
qīng清
le了
。
That rumor was clarified long ago.
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Tā他
zǎo早
yǐ已
bù不
shì是
dāng当
nián年
de的
nà那
ge个
máo毛
tóu头
xiǎo小
zi子
le了
。
He has long since ceased to be the brash youngster he was back then.
Huì会
yì议
zǎo早
yǐ已
jié结
shù束
，
nǐ你
wèi为
shén什
me么
cái才
lái来
？
The meeting ended a long time ago; why are you only coming now?
noun
early days; past; former times
dialectA dialectal usage, mainly referring to a time or era in the past.
Xiàn现
zài在
dà大
jiā家
yòng用
gāng钢
bǐ笔
xiě写
zì字
，
zǎo早
yǐ已
dōu都
yòng用
máo毛
bǐ笔
。
Now everyone writes with pens; in the old days, we all used writing brushes.
Zǎo早
yǐ已
nǎ哪
shì是
xiàn现
zài在
zhè这
ge个
yàng样
zi子
？
The past was nothing like it is now.