already

Original meaning: 

finish eating

Depicts a person, who is full, turning away () from a container of food (). Based on the original meaning "finish eating". The meaning later shifted to "complete" and "already".

Components
皀 iconic component

  Iconic component

  

one grain

Depicts a container of food.

旡 sound,iconic component

  Sound Iconic component

  

choke on something eaten

Depicts a person with their open mouth facing backwards.

Evolution

既 Oracle script (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle script

(~1250-1000 BC)
既 Bronze script Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze script

Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
既 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
既 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
既 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

already; de facto; since; then; both... (and...)

Most common words with 既
Freq.
Word
Meaning

既然

since

already

既是

since

既有

existing

一如既往

continuing as always

Component uses

Sound component in 8 characters (1 verified)