昨 (zuó) — (bound form) yesterday; the past
Definition
Bound form meaning 'yesterday / past'. It never stands alone — always attaches to 天, 日, or 晚, unlike time words such as 昨天 which work on their own.
bound form
yesterdaythe past
Examples
- 。zuó Tiān shì xīng qī yī.Yesterday was Monday.
- 。zuó Wǎn wǒ shí èr diǎn cái shuì.Last night I didn't sleep until twelve.
- 。zuó Rì wǒ men qù le gōng yuán.Yesterday we went to the park.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
昨 pairs 日 (sun/day) with 乍, which gives the sound and may also carry the sense “at first,” relating to an earlier day.
Appears in
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