many years ago; in one's youth
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesnoun
many years ago; long ago; in the past
neutralRefers to a period in the distant past, often compared to the present.
Zǎo早
nián年
zhè这
lǐ里
shì是
yī一
piàn片
huāng荒
dì地
，
xiàn现
zài在
biàn变
chéng成
le了
fán繁
huá华
de的
dū都
shì市
。
Long ago, this place was wasteland; now it has become a bustling city.
Tā他
zǎo早
nián年
liú留
xué学
hǎi海
wài外
，
hòu后
lái来
huí回
guó国
fā发
zhǎn展
。
He studied abroad many years ago and later returned to his home country to develop his career.
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Zhè这
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
zǎo早
nián年
zhǐ只
shì是
yī一
jiān间
xiǎo小
zuō作
fang坊
。
This company was just a small workshop in its early years.
noun
one's youth; early years of a person's life
neutralRefers specifically to the period when someone was young, often highlighting significant life events.
Tā他
zǎo早
nián年
sàng丧
fù父
，
shēng生
huó活
fēi非
cháng常
jiān艰
xīn辛
。
He lost his father in his youth, and life was very hard.
Tā她
zǎo早
nián年
jiù就
duì对
yīn音
yuè乐
biǎo表
xiàn现
chū出
nóng浓
hòu厚
de的
xìng兴
qù趣
。
She showed a keen interest in music from her early years.
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Lǎo老
xiān先
sheng生
zài在
zǎo早
nián年
jī积
lěi累
le了
fēng丰
fù富
de的
jīng经
yàn验
。
The old gentleman accumulated rich experience in his early years.