从前

cóng qián

HSK 2.0 Level 5 HSK 3.0 Level 5 Noun Common

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Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 如今 rú jīn 如今 rú jīn nowadays 现在: nowadays

Related words

1 item

• 以后 yǐ hòu 以后 yǐ hòu after 与‘从前’时间序列上相邻的概念: after

Synonyms

2 items

• 以前 yǐ qián 以前 yǐ qián before 时间上较早的时期: before
• 过去 guò qù 过去 guò qù (in the) past 以往的时间: (in the) past

Usage notes

Common mistakes

Do not use 从前 for recent past; it implies a long time ago. For 'just now', use 刚才.

Formality

Used primarily in written narratives or storytelling to evoke a distant past; in spoken Chinese, 以前 or 之前 is more common.

Example Sentences

1 shown

从前 ，有一个小村庄。

Once upon a time, there was a small village.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 从前

• 前 前 qián: front
• 从 从 cóng: from