xī

昔

Character · Noun · Proper noun

former times; past; ancient

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 4 examples
1.

noun

the past; former times; old days

literary

Often used in formal or literary contexts to refer to time gone by. Can function as an attributive modifier (e.g., 昔日).

Xī昔
rì日
fán繁
huá华
de的
chéng城
shì市
rú如
jīn今
yǐ已
chéng成
fèi废
xū墟
 。

The once-prosperous city has now become ruins.

Jīn今
shèng胜
yú于
xī昔
 ，
wǒ我
men们
de的
shēng生
huó活
yuè越
lái来
yuè越
hǎo好
le了
 。

The present is better than the past; our lives are getting better and better.

Show 1 more example
Xī昔
nián年
wǎng往
shì事
yǒng涌
shàng上
xīn心
tóu头
 。

Memories of bygone years welled up in my heart.

2.

proper noun

surname Xi

neutral

A rare Chinese surname.

Xī昔
xiān先
sheng生
shì是
yī一
wèi位
zhù著
míng名
de的
lì历
shǐ史
xué学
jiā家
 。

Mr. Xi is a famous historian.