古时候 (gǔ shí hou) — ancient times | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

ancient times

古时候，。
gǔ shí hou De rén méi yǒu diàn, wǎn shàng zhǐ néng diǎn yóu dēng.
People in ancient times had no electricity and could only light oil lamps at night.
古时候。
Zhè ge gù shi fā shēng zài gǔ shí hou.
This story took place in ancient times.
古时候。
gǔ shí hou De huáng dì quán lì fēi cháng dà.
The emperor in ancient times had enormous power.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

古gǔancient

时候time

联合Side by side

“古” means ancient and “时候” means time, so it refers to ancient times.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

One reading of 古 sees a shield-like shape above an open mark, showing strength and firmness. Another sees a person spitting out bad-tasting food.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 時; 时 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

日日rìsun; day

Sound part声符shēngfú

之

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 時 pairs 日 (sun/day) with 之 as the part that gives the sound; the simplified 时 is not the form described.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rén

Sound part声符shēngfú

矦

矦hóu候hòu

Same sound today

候 combines 亻, relating to people, with 矦, which gives the sound.