早就

zǎo jiù
adverbIntermediate already
informal

Used to indicate that something happened or was done before the current time or before a specified time, often with a sense of inevitability or prior knowledge.

他早就知道这个消息了。

He already knew this news.

这件事早就解决了。

This matter was already resolved.

💡

Often used to emphasize that an action or event occurred earlier than expected or that the speaker had prior knowledge of it.

Collocations

早就知道already knew早就准备好already prepared早就告诉过already told

Synonyms

Related Phrases

💡Pro Tip

Emphasis on Prior Knowledge

早就 often implies that the speaker had prior knowledge of the situation, making it slightly more emphatic than 已经.

Gold Rule

Usage in Past Contexts

早就 is typically used to refer to actions or states that occurred before the present moment or a specified time.

📖Word Origin

Combination of 早 (early) and 就 (already), emphasizing that an action or state occurred before a certain time.

📝Usage Notes

Commonly used in spoken and written Chinese to express that something happened earlier than the current moment or a specified time. Often conveys a sense of inevitability or prior knowledge.

Word Breakdown

early
root
+
already
root
汉英词典