己 vs 已 vs 巳
己 vs 已 vs 巳: Three Similar Characters
Quick Summary
己 (jǐ) means "self"; 已 (yǐ) means "already"; 巳 (sì) is the 6th Earthly Branch (9-11am).
Detailed Breakdown
jǐ
Self, oneself
Grammar Pattern
自己 (oneself) / 知己 (close friend)Examples
自己
zìjǐ
oneself
知己
zhījǐ
close friend (one who knows you)
各人自扫门前雪
gè rén zì sǎo mén qián xuě
each person sweeps their own doorstep
yǐ
Already, to cease
Grammar Pattern
已经 (already) / 已 + VerbExamples
已经
yǐjīng
already
我已经吃了
wǒ yǐjīng chī le
I have already eaten
木已成舟
mù yǐ chéng zhōu
what's done is done (the wood has become a boat)
sì
6th Earthly Branch (9-11am, snake)
Grammar Pattern
巳时 (9-11am) / 巳蛇 (snake zodiac)Examples
巳时
sì shí
9-11am (traditional time)
巳蛇
sì shé
snake (in Chinese zodiac)
上午九点是巳时
shàngwǔ jiǔ diǎn shì sì shí
9am is the hour of the snake
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | 己 | 已 | 巳 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meaning | self | already | 6th branch |
| Pronunciation | jǐ (3rd) | yǐ (3rd) | sì (4th) |
| Opening | fully open 己 | half closed 已 | fully closed 巳 |
| Common word | 自己 | 已经 | 巳时 |
Memory Tips
- 己 is fully OPEN - "self" is open/exposed
- 已 is half CLOSED - something has "already" happened (partially done)
- 巳 is fully CLOSED - like a coiled SNAKE (巳 = snake zodiac)
Common Mistakes
"Oneself" uses 己 (fully open) not 已
"Already" uses 已 (half closed) not 己
巳 is rare - only for zodiac/traditional time. Most likely you need 己 or 已
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I remember 己 vs 已 vs 巳?
Look at the opening: 己 is fully open (self is exposed), 已 is half-closed (already done), 巳 is fully closed (like a coiled snake). The more closed, the later in the sequence.
Which one is most common?
己 and 已 are very common. 己 appears in 自己 (oneself). 已 appears in 已经 (already). 巳 is rare - mainly used for Chinese zodiac (snake) or traditional time-keeping.
Related Comparisons
Practice Writing These Characters
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