すでに・既に・已にsudeni[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. adverbalready
   バス停ばすていに着ついた時とき、バスはすでに出でていた。↗

   The bus had already left when I got to the bus stop.
2. adverbpreviously; before
   すでに言いってあるように、これもあなたの仕事しごとのうちだ。↗

   This is also part of your work, as I told you before.
3. adverbundeniably; unmistakably; in the first place

• SynonymもうNeutralThe most common spoken word for 'already'; it also covers 'soon' and 'more/again', as in 「もう少し」, so its range is broader than 「既に」.
• SynonymもはやWrittenWritten: indicates that things have now reached a certain point, often with a negation or a conclusion, as in 「もはや手遅れだ」「もはや定番だ」; stronger than 「既に」.
• SynonymとっくにCasualColloquial; stresses that something happened long ago, as in 「とっくに終わった」; brings out the length of time more than 「既に」.
• SynonymかねてWrittenWritten; indicates something was already the case beforehand, as in 「かねてからの計画」; stresses that it has been so since before, without emphasizing completion.
• SynonymとうにWrittenSame meaning as 「とっくに」 ('long since'); the feel is slightly old-fashioned and written, and in speech 「とっくに」 is the usual choice.
• RelatedかねがねFormalFormal; means one has long since heard or thought something, i.e. 'for some time now'; used in greetings such as 「かねがねお噂は伺っております」; does not express completion.
• Related早くもはやくもNeutralStresses that something happens earlier than expected, as in 「早くも桜が咲いた」, with a nuance of surprise; 「既に」 merely states that something is already done.
• AntonymまだNeutralAntonym: 'still' or 'not yet'; opposite to 「既に」 as to whether an action is complete, as in 「まだ終わっていない」.

For stating that something is already done, use 「既に」 in writing and 「もう」 in speech. Emphasize that it happened long ago with 「とっくに」, that things have now reached a point with 「もはや」, and that it came sooner than expected with 「早くも」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. ある事象じしょうが完了かんりょうしているさま。もう、もはや、とっくに。
2. ことごとく、全すべて、悉皆しっかい。
3. すんでのことに、殆ほとんど。