Japanese word

すでに

Pronunciation

Romajisudeni

Meaning

  • adverbalready

Example

映画はすでに始まりました。ei ga wa su de ni haji ma ri ma shi ta

The movie has already started.

Illustration for すでに (already)

More examples

私はすでに朝ご飯を食べました。watashi wa su de ni asa go han o ta be ma shi ta

I have already eaten breakfast.

私はすでに宿題を終えました。watashi wa su de ni shuku dai o o e ma shi ta

I have already finished my homework.

Core concept

Shows that something has happened before the relevant moment, so it is no longer pending.

Common phrases

  • すでに知っているsu de ni shi tte i ru

    already know

  • すでに終わったsu de ni o wa tta

    already finished

Similar words

もうmō: Indicates in everyday conversation that an action or event has happened before the relevant time.
とっくにtokkuni: Indicates that an action or event was completed long before the relevant time.

Definition in Japanese

ある時点より前に、ある事柄が実現しているさま。a ru ji ten yo ri mae ni a ru koto gara ga jitsu gen shi te i ru sa ma

Word origin

The form すでに (sudeni) is made from すで (sude, "already") and the particle に (ni), which helps form adverbs.

Usage tips

  • Japanese often uses すでに (sudeni) in formal announcements and written explanations, while conversation commonly uses もう (mō) for the same meaning.

Opposites

Word lists with this word