从前

• 拼音: cóng qián
• 汉字拆解: 从 = simplified from 從, meaning from; 前 = 止 (stop) + 刂 (knife), meaning before or front

含义

In the past; once upon a time; formerly. Refers to a time in the past, often used to begin stories.

Commonly used at the beginning of stories and fairy tales, similar to 'once upon a time.' Also used in everyday speech to refer to past experiences or former times. Often appears in the pattern 从前...现在... to contrast past and present.

例句

1. 从前有一个小女孩住在山里。
2. 这个地方和从前比变化很大。
3. 从前我不喜欢运动，但现在每天都跑步。

用法指南

语境: storytelling, reminiscing, everyday

语气: nostalgic

正确说法

• 从前这里是一片农田。(In the past, this was all farmland.)
• 从前的生活和现在很不一样。(Life in the past was very different from now.)

错误说法

• 从前五分钟他来了 (Don't use 从前 for recent moments — use 之前 or 刚才; 从前 refers to a distant or indefinite past, not minutes ago)

起源与历史

Compound of 从 (from) and 前 (before, front), literally 'from before,' pointing to an earlier time.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal