Chinese word

往年

Pronunciation

Pinyinwǎng nián

Meaning

  • nounprevious years

Example

往年的照片很珍贵。wǎng nián de zhào piān hěn zhēn guì

Photos from previous years are very precious.

Illustration for 往年 (previous years)

More examples

与往年相比，今年的降雨量明显减少。yǔ wǎng nián xiāng bǐ jīn nián de jiàng yǔ liàng míng xiǎn jián shǎo

Compared with past years, this year's rainfall has clearly decreased.

Core concept

A window onto a remote earlier period, especially when its condition or achievements are being recalled.

Common phrases

  • 与往年相比yǔ wǎng nián xiāng bǐ

    compared with past years

  • 往年的经验wǎng nián de jīng yàn

    experience from past years

Similar words

过去guò qù: The past, including earlier time and events as a whole.
以前yǐ qián: An earlier time or state before a stated point of reference.
之前zhī qián: An earlier time before a specific event or point.

Definition in Chinese

往年 指较久远的过去时光，常带有怀念或评价昔日情形的意味。wǎng nián zhǐ jiào jiú yuǎn de guò qù shí guāng cháng dài yǒu huái niàn huò píng jià xī rì qíng xíng de yì wèi

Word origin

The compound 往年 (wǎngnián, "previous years") joins 往 (wǎng, "past") and 年 (nián, "year"), so it gathers several earlier years into one remembered period.

Usage tips

  • 往年 (wǎngnián, "previous years") is common in formal or written-looking reflection, where the focus is on looking back at a period rather than simply locating an event in time.

Other meanings

  • the pastnoun
  • old daysnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word