すでに
🃏 Flashcard
すでに
sude ni
Tap to reveal usage
something has already been done
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
sude ni
Post ID
50924
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
something has already been done
📖 How to use it
Indicates that an action or state has already been completed before a certain point in time.
Attaches to
Used before a verb in its past (ta-form) or present affirmative form, or before a noun/noun phrase, often with て-いる or た form.
すでに means 'already' and emphasizes that something has been completed before a certain time, often earlier than expected. It is more formal than the casual もう. You place it directly before the verb or noun it modifies. For example, with a verb: すでに終わった (it has already ended). With a state: すでに知っている (I already know). With a noun: すでに春 (it is already spring).
会議はすでに始まっています。
Kaigi wa sude ni hajimatte imasu.
The meeting has already started.
彼はすでに帰ったよ。
Kare wa sude ni kaetta yo.
He already went home.
その映画はすでに見たから、別のにしよう。
Sono eiga wa sude ni mita kara, betsu no ni shiyou.
I've already seen that movie, so let's watch a different one.
Not もう
もう is more common in everyday conversation and can also mean 'soon' or 'another' (e.g., もう一度). すでに is more formal and always means 'already', focusing on completion.
Register
すでに is used in both spoken and written Japanese, but it sounds more formal and literary than もう. In casual speech, もう is preferred.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
すでに
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat すでに three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using すでに. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern すでに mean?
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Something has already been done
What JLPT level is すでに?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use すでに in a sentence?
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Attach すでに (sude ni) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is すでに formal or casual Japanese?
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すでに is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember すでに long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.