早在…就…
as early as …, already …
Structure
早在 时间 ， 主语 就／已 …
What it means
As early as …, already …: stresses that something happened surprisingly early.
How it is built
早在 + time，subject + 就／已 + verb: 早在上大学的时候，他就开始创业了 (He was already starting businesses back at university).
When to use it
Use it to underline how early something began, in speech or writing; 就已 together is common in writing. The mirror image, 直到…才…, stresses how late: 直到三十岁他才结婚.
Watch out
The subject goes after the time phrase and before 就: ✗ 早在大学时，就他开始… ✓ 早在大学时，他就开始…. The time is a past point that feels early, not a future plan.
Examples
楷书早在一千多年前就已定型。
Regular script had already taken its settled form more than a thousand years ago.
早在上大学的时候，他就开始创业了。
He was already starting businesses back at university.
Learn this in Lesson 82 · HSK 6–7: 汉字的演变 (How the characters evolved)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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