既 (jì)

already; since; both... (and...)

Etymology

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

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》:“旣,小食也。从皀,旡聲。《論語》曰:‘不使勝食旣。’”

Original meaning

finish eating

Components