とっくに

とっくに is an adverb meaning "long ago", "a long time ago", or "already (ages ago)". It emphasizes that something happened or was completed well before the present moment, or well before the expected time. It carries a stronger nuance than もう ("already"), implying that the action or event occurred so far in the past that it should be obvious or expected by now.

Basic usage

とっくに is placed before the verb or adjective it modifies, just like other time-related adverbs.

Emphasizing that something should have been known or expected

とっくに is used when the speaker feels that the listener should already know about the situation, or when expressing mild frustration or surprise that someone is unaware.

Past tense and ～ている forms

とっくに frequently appears with the past tense (〜～た) to describe completed actions, or with 〜～ている to describe a resulting state that has been in effect for a long time.

Comparison with もう

While もう simply means "already," とっくに adds the nuance that a significant amount of time has passed. Compare:

• もう食べた – I already ate.
• とっくに食べた – I ate ages ago.

Casual tone

とっくに is used in casual or conversational contexts. In more formal writing or speech, expressions like ずっとまえに前に or かなりまえに前に may be preferred.