Usage of 早已
The adverb 早已 (zǎoyǐ) emphasizes that something happened or was true a long time ago, well before the present moment. It is stronger than simply saying 已经 (yǐjīng, "already") because it implies a considerable time gap.
Common contexts
You often see 早已 in formal or written Chinese, such as news reports, official statements, or narratives, to stress that an action or state was completed or established long ago.
Collocations and patterns
- 早已完成 (zǎoyǐ wánchéng): "have long finished" — used to highlight completion well before now.
- 早已知道 (zǎoyǐ zhīdào): "have long known" — emphasizes prior knowledge.
- 早已达成 (zǎoyǐ dáchéng): "have long reached" (an agreement) — stresses an agreement or decision made long ago.
Nuance and register
Using 早已 adds a tone of certainty and sometimes a slight reproach or impatience, as it implies the information or action is not new and should be acknowledged. It is more formal than just 已经 and is rarely used in casual spoken language.
Common confusion
Do not confuse 早已 with 早 (early) alone or 已经. 早已 always stresses the long-past completion or knowledge, not just something early or already done recently.