从前 (cóng qián) — formerly; in the past; once upon a time
Definition
A time word for the distant past, commonly used to open stories ("Once upon a time…"). More literary and far-reaching than 以前, which just means "before."
noun
formerlyin the pastonce upon a time
Examples
- 从前，。cóng qián Yǒu yí gè rén, tā měi tiān dōu qù shān shàng kǎn chái.Once upon a time there was a man who went to the mountain every day to cut firewood.
- 从前，。cóng qián Wǒ bù xǐ huan yùn dòng, xiàn zài měi tiān dōu huì pǎo bù.I didn't like exercise before, but now I run every day.
- 从前，。cóng qián Zhè lǐ shì yí gè xiǎo cūn zi, xiàn zài yǐ jīng biàn chéng dà chéng shì le.This place used to be a small village, but now it has become a big city.
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