Definition
从前 (cóng qián) means 'in the past, formerly, once upon a time' — it sets a scene in a past era distinct from the present, often in storytelling or reminiscing. Unlike 以前 (yǐ qián), which is more general for 'before', and 之前 (zhī qián), which refers to 'before' a specific event, 从前 suggests a longer, closed-off past period.
noun
formerlyin the pastonce upon a time
Examples
- 从前，。cóng qián yǒu yí gè rén, tā měitiān 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 xǐhuan yùndòng, xiànzài měitiān dōu huì pǎobù.I didn't like exercise before, but now I run every day.
- 从前，。cóng qián zhèlǐ shì yí gè xiǎo cūnzi, xiànzài yǐjīng biàn chéng dà chéngshì le.This place used to be a small village, but now it has become a big city.
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