既に（すでに、sudeni）
- already

The Japanese word 既に （すでに） means "already," "before," "previously," or "as early as." It indicates that something has happened or been completed at a point in time prior to the present, or a reference point. It emphasizes that the action or state described is earlier than expected or earlier than another event.

⚫︎彼は既に出発しました。 Translation: He has already left. ⚫︎既にたくさんの人が集まっています。 Translation: Many people have already gathered. ⚫︎既に夕食は終わりました。 Translation: Dinner is already over.

⚫︎既に is used to emphasize that something has occurred or been completed earlier than a certain time or another event. ⚫︎It can be used in both formal and informal situations. ⚫︎It is typically placed at the beginning or near the beginning of a sentence, right before the verb or the action it modifies. ⚫︎It can modify a verb, an adjective, or a noun.

⚫︎The word 既に is primarily written with the kanji 既 and hiragana に. ⚫︎The reading is すでに in hiragana. ⚫︎There is no other common way to write this word.

⚫︎もう (mou) - "already" (more casual than 既に) ⚫︎とっくに (tokkuni) - "long ago," "already" (emphasizes a longer time) ⚫︎以前 (izen) - "before," "previously"

⚫︎まだ (mada) - "not yet" ⚫︎これから (kore kara) - "from now on," "in the future"

既に締め切りは過ぎています。 ・Translation: The deadline has already passed. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 既に to emphasize that the deadline is over.

私は既にその映画を見ました。 ・Translation: I have already seen that movie. ・Explanation: This sentence indicates that the speaker has seen the movie before now.

The kanji 既 means "already," "previously," or "former." The に is a grammatical particle. The word therefore literally means "already at that point in time."