Definition
往年 (wǎng nián) means 'in former/previous years' — it contrasts a specific past period (often several years ago) with the present. It is broader than 前年 (the year before last) and less specific than 当年 (back in those days). Unlike 历年 (over the years, emphasizing a span), 往年 simply refers to past years as a reference point.
noun
in former yearsin previous years
Examples
- 往年。wǎng nián zhège shíhou tiānqì hěn lěng.In previous years, the weather was very cold at this time.
- 往年。wǎng nián de chéngjì méiyǒu jīnnián hǎo.The results in former years weren't as good as this year's.
- 往年。Tā shuō de hé wǎng nián bù yíyàng.What he said is different from previous years.
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