before; formerly; in the past
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
before; formerly; in the past; previous
Used to refer to a time prior to the present, often appearing in comparative structures or formal contexts to contrast past and present conditions.
Jīn今
tiān天
de的
nóng农
cūn村
gēn跟
yǐ以
wǎng往
dà大
bù不
yī一
yàng样
le了
。
Today's countryside is very different from before.
Tā他
bǐ比
yǐ以
wǎng往
gèng更
jiā加
nǔ努
lì力
le了
。
He is working harder than before.
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Huí回
gù顾
yǐ以
wǎng往
，
wǒ我
men们
qǔ取
dé得
le了
hěn很
dà大
de的
jìn进
bù步
。
Looking back at the past, we have made great progress.
Zhè这
lǐ里
yǐ以
wǎng往
shì是
yī一
piàn片
huāng荒
dì地
，
xiàn现
què在
què却
biàn变
chéng成
le了
gōng公
yuán园
。
This place used to be a wasteland, but now it has become a park.