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Kotomora

既

previously, already, long ago

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • キ

Kun'yomi

  • すで.に

Meaning

既 centers on something that has already happened or been completed: previously, already, or long ago. It marks a state that is finished and now taken as a given.

Most common words using 既

20 of 65
  • 既にすでに
    N3

    already

  • 既存きそん

    existing

  • 既婚きこん
    N2

    married

  • 既成きせい
    N1

    established; existing; accomplished; accepted; completed

  • 既知きち

    (already) known; established

  • 既刊きかん

    already published

  • 既定きてい

    established; fixed; prearranged; predetermined

  • 既出きしゅつ

    previously presented; already shown; previously posed (exam question); aforementioned

  • 既得きとく

    vested; already acquired

  • 皆既かいき

    total eclipse; totality

  • 既製きせい
    N1

    ready-made; off the shelf

  • 既往きおう

    the past

  • 既設きせつ

    established; existing

  • 既遂きすい

    already finished (action); already accomplished

  • 既報きほう

    previous report; previous announcement

  • 皆既食かいきしょく

    total eclipse (solar or lunar); totality

  • 既往症きおうしょう

    illness that one had in the past; previous illness; medical history; anamnesis

  • 既得権きとくけん

    vested rights

  • 既成事実きせいじじつ

    established fact; fait accompli

  • 既製服きせいふく

    ready-made clothes; ready-to-wear clothes; off-the-rack clothes; off-the-peg clothes

Explore all words using 既 →

Study

Etymology

既 originally depicted a person turning away from a food vessel, suggesting the idea of having finished eating. The modern form retains the right-side component 旡, which is related to this turning-away image, while the left side is a simplified vessel shape.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side looks like a container, and the right side 旡 suggests someone turning away. Imagine a person who has already finished their meal and turns away from the empty bowl: the action is done, already in the past.

Reading mnemonic

For キ, imagine a key that has already been used to lock a door: key -> キ, and the door is already locked, just as 既 marks something already completed.