既 means “already, previously”
すでに · sudeni
Also: long ago
- Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)
- すでに
- On'yomi (Chinese reading)
- キ
JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 10 strokes
The story
A bowl heaped with food (the left side) and a diner turning his head away (旡): the meal is over, already done. 既に is already, 既婚 is married, and on LINE the little 既読 mark tells you your message has been read.
Used in 既に (sude ni, already), 既婚 (kikon, married), and 既読 (kidoku, read, of a message)
More from Moments & Eras
- 暫 temporary
- 旬 in season
- 即 immediate
- 瞬 instant
- 恒 constant
- 曽 great- (generation)
- 徐 slowly
- 疾 disease
- 頻 frequent
- 暦 calendar
- 遍 everywhere
- 迅 swift
Learn 既 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji
Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.