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以往 (yǐ wǎng) — (noun) the past; former times

Definition

以往 is a written, formal word for 'the past,' more literary than the everyday 以前 or 过去. Use it especially with 以往的 to mean 'former / past' before a noun.

noun
the pastformer times

Examples

  • 以往，。
    yǐ wǎng Rén men méi yǒu shǒu jī, xiàn zài rén rén dōu yǒu.
    In the past people didn't have cell phones; now everyone has one.
  • 以往。
    yǐ wǎng De jīng yàn néng bāng zhù wǒ men bì miǎn cuò wù.
    Past experience can help us avoid mistakes.
  • 以往，。
    yǐ wǎng Wǒ bù xǐ huan yùn dòng, xiàn zài měi tiān pǎo bù.
    I used to not like exercise; now I run every day.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

以yǐprefix
往wǎngpast

The 以 part adds no meaning here, while 往 supplies the sense of the past, giving 'formerly'.

Characters in this word

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 →

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
止止zhǐfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
王
王wáng往wǎng
Same sound today

The form that became 往 paired 止, a foot, with 王 for the sound; a stepping part was later added, and the right side changed.

Open 往 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Time (Abstract)

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