Definition
This is a four-character idiom (成语) that literally asks 'how much time could have passed?' but idiomatically means 'not long ago' or 'a short while ago'. You'll often see it placed at the start of a sentence to contrast a recent past situation with the present, much like English 'it wasn't long since…' or 'just a short time ago, …'. It has a slightly literary or formal feel.
id.
not long agoa short time ago (idiom)
Examples
- 曾几何时，。céng jǐ hé shí, tā háishì ge niánqīng de wǔdǎo lǎoshī.Not long ago, she was still a young dance teacher.
- 曾几何时，。céng jǐ hé shí, wǒmen hái zài nàge xiǎo chéngshì shēnghuó.Not long ago, we were still living in that small city.
- 曾几何时，。céng jǐ hé shí, tā gānggāng dàxué bìyè.Not long ago, he had just graduated from university.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.