N296/221
とっくに
とっくに + V(ta)とっくに + V(ている)とっくに + adj/Adjい + です/だ
Meanings
- already
- a long time ago
- long ago
- well before now
About this pattern
Explanation
とっくに is a strong adverb meaning that something has already happened or has been the case for a long time, often earlier than expected or than the speaker assumes. It conveys a sense of long elapsed time and can imply that the information should be obvious or not surprising by now. It is used in both past and present contexts to emphasize the lateness of the moment relative to the speaker's expectation.