Chinese word

以往

Pronunciation

Pinyinyǐ wǎng

Meaning

  • adverbin the past

Example

以往他总是迟到，现在改了。yí wǎng tā zǒng shì chí dào xiàn zài gǎi le

In the past, he was always late, but now he has changed.

Illustration for 以往 (in the past)

More examples

以往一直按时完成任务。yí wǎng yì zhí àn shí wán chéng rèn wù

In the past, tasks were always completed on time.

Core concept

A stretch of time before now, especially a former period or recurring past pattern viewed as a whole.

Common phrases

  • 以往一直yí wǎng yì zhí

    always in the past

  • 以往通常yí wǎng tōng cháng

    usually in the past

Similar words

以前yǐ qián: Refers broadly to a time or event before now in everyday or written language.
曾经céng jīng: Indicates that something actually happened or was true at some time in the past.
过去guò qù: Refers to a time or event before the present on a timeline.
从前cóng qián: Evokes a long-ago period or former routine, often in speech or storytelling.

Definition in Chinese

用来指代过去发生的事情或过去常有的情况，侧重说明从前的一段时间或既往的状态，通常作时间副词使用。yòng lái zhǐ dài guò qù fā shēng de shì qíng huò guò qù cháng yǒu de qíng kuàng cè zhòng shuō míng cóng qián de yí duàn shí jiān huò jì wǎng de zhuàng tài tōng cháng zuò shí jiān fù cí shǐ yòng

Word origin

The compound 以往 (yǐwǎng, "in the past") combines 以 (yǐ, "from") + 往 (wǎng, "go toward"), with 往 taking a time sense for what has gone by.

Usage tips

  • It often frames a before-and-after contrast, so it fits statements about a past routine that has changed rather than a single earlier event.

Other meanings

  • the pastnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word