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有史以来 (yǒu shǐ yǐ lái) — since the beginning of recorded history; throughout history; ever

Definition

A fixed set phrase meaning 'since the dawn of recorded history / throughout history.' Used as a time frame before a verb or at the start of a sentence — never negated and never used alone.

verb
since the beginning of recorded historythroughout historyever

Examples

  • 有史以来。
    Zhè shì yǒu shǐ yǐ lái zuì rè de yí gè xià tiān.
    This is the hottest summer in recorded history.
  • 有史以来，。
    yǒu shǐ yǐ lái Dì yī cì, rén lèi dēng shàng le yuè qiú.
    For the first time in history, humans set foot on the moon.
  • 有史以来。
    yǒu shǐ yǐ lái Cóng wèi yǒu guò zhè yàng de jī huì.
    There has never been such an opportunity in all of history.

Origin

Characters in this word

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
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu有yǒu
Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old drawing showed someone holding a flag-like or writing tool, indicating the act of recording events; the exact inner shape is unclear.

Open 史 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape came from a drawing of a person carrying something; in 以, part of that person is still visible on the right.

Open 以 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 來; 来 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 來 shows a wheat plant: a central ear, upward leaves, and downward stem and roots. The simplified 来 is a later shorthand.

Open 来 →
Appears in
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