PAST  過去

PERIOD BEFORE NOW.
FORMERLYHISTORYBACKGROUNDPREVIOUSLYEARLIERBEFOREUNTIL NOW/THENHITHERTONéeONCEONCE UPON A TIMEAT ONE TIMEIN THE PASTFORMAL HERETOFORE
Antonym
  • FUTURETIME PERIOD LATE IN-RELATION-TO NOW.
    Hypernym
    • TIMEABSTRACT OBJECT that all EVENTS ARE-IN.
    See also
    • OLDOf BIG AGE OR having EXISTED for an ENDURING PERIOD.
      • OLDOf BIG AGE OR having EXISTED for an ENDURING PERIOD.
        • CAUSESITUATION OR THING which CAUSES something TO HAPPEN OR to be TRUE.
          Hyponym
          • RECENT PAST AND NOT DISTANT.
            • FRESH RECENTLY HARVESTED AND EXCELLENT FOR EATING.
          • FORMER Who in the PAST was something X BUT HAS BECOME NOT X at the PRESENT.
            • ORIGIN PAST as DISTANT OR NEAR CAUSE of SOMETHING.
              • ORIGINALLY At the MOMENT when something BEGAN.
            • ANCIENT INTENSELY PAST
              • OLD-FASHIONED PAST AND ALREADY NOT MODERN OR GOOD
                Old Chinese Criteria
                1. The most general current word for "formerly" referring to any time in the distant or recent past is probably xī 昔 (ant. jīn 今 "present").

                2. Wǎng 往 (ant. lái 來 "future") is a general technical term for the past.

                3. Céng 曾 marks an event as belonging to the past, and the word is highly grammaticalised. 待考

                4. Cháng 嘗 places an action or experience in the past, typically in so far as this past is experienced or witnessed by someone, remarkably often by the speaker himself.

                5. Gǔ 古 and gǔ zhě 古者 refer specifically to ancient times and not just generally to the past.

                6. Xiàng 鄉 / 曏 / 嚮 refers to the relatively recent past.

                7. Nǎng 曩 refers to the somewhat more distant past.

                8. Qǐng 頃 refer to the period a short time ago.

                9. Gù 故 tends to be used adjectivally to characterise something as being former rather than present, and the meaning is very neatly distinct from gǔ 古 which would characterise something as being old.\

                NB: Zuó 昨 refers specifically to something happening a day ago. See YESTERDAY.

                Modern Chinese Criteria
                過去

                從前

                已往

                以往

                往常

                往昔

                平昔

                昔日

                往日

                舊日

                向日

                舊時

                老年間

                年時

                往年

                早年

                早歲

                昔年

                古昔

                疇昔

                宿昔

                夙昔

                逝川

                逝波





                自古

                古來

                終古

                亙古

                曠古

                振古

                古往今來

                rough draft to BEGIN TO identify synonym group members for analysis, based on CL etc. 18.11.2003. CH /

                • Novyj objasnitel'nyj Slovar' Sinonimov Russkogo Jazyka ( APRESJAN 2004) p. 833;897

                • Vocabulaire européen des philosophies. Dictionnaire des intraduisibles ( CASSIN 2004) p. 1017

                • Lateinische Synonyme und Etymologien ( DOEDERLEIN 1840) p.

                  FORMERLY

                  pridem refrs to a point of time as being long ago.

                  diu refers to a space of time manyt days, months or years ago.

                  dudum refers to a space of time several minutes or hours since.

                • 論衡同義詞研究 ( LUNHENG TONGYI 2004) p. 102

                • Historisches Woerterbuch der Philosophie ( RITTER 1971-2007) p. 12.1426

                  ZUKUNFT; VERGANGENHEIT

                • 古辭辨 Gu ci bian ( WANG FENGYANG 1993) p. 11

                • 中國文化背景八千詞 Zhongguo wenhua beijing ba qian ci ( WU SANXING 2008) p. 249f

                Words

                昔者  xī zhě OC: sqaɡ kljaʔ MC: siɛk tɕɣɛ 49 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadSthe past, some time ago
                • NPadSSantiquityin ancient times (those of the tyrant Jiè etc)
                • NPadV.postN{SUBJ}in the past; some time ago
                  qián OC: dzeen MC: dzen 37 AttributionsWD

                  Word relations
                • Ant: 後/FUTURE Hòu 後 (ant. qíán 前 "earlier times") often refers to what comes afterwards, the future.
                • Synon: /

                  Syntactic words
                • nabtimeearlier time
                • nadSat an early stage, in the beginning; in the former case (rather than the latter)
                • nsubjectthe earlier ones (e.g. words, deeds)
                • v(adN)the previous contextually determinate NVK
                • vadN(temporal) previous, earlier, former; preceding 前人,前相
                • vadVformerly, earlier
                  cháng OC: djaŋ MC: dʑi̯ɐŋ
                  cháng OC: djaŋ MC: dʑi̯ɐŋ 37 AttributionsWD

                Cháng 嘗 places an action or experience in the past, typically in so far as this past is experienced or witnessed by someone, remarkably often by the speaker himself.

                  Syntactic words
                • vadVat one point, some time ago; once in the past, on one occasion; in the past; 
                  xī OC: sqaɡ MC: siɛk 32 AttributionsWD

                  Word relations
                • Assoc: 往/PAST Wǎng 往 (ant. lái 來 "future") is a general technical term for the past.
                • Synon: 舊/OLD The general term for old age of living creatures is lǎo 老 "of old age" (ant. shào 少 "still youthful" and yòu 幼 "young"), whereas the general term for things not new is jiù 舊 (ant. xīn 新 "new").

                  Syntactic words
                • nabeventthe past
                • nadNdefinitelast
                • nadNunspecifieda past, bygone (days);
                • nadSSbefore; in the past year(s)
                • nadVat an earlier time
                • nadV.postN{SUBJ}in the past
                  céng OC: dzɯɯŋ MC: dzəŋ 25 AttributionsWD

                Céng 曾 marks an event as belonging to the past, and the word is highly grammaticalised. 待考

                  Syntactic words
                • padSin the past, repeatedly
                • padSrhetorical questionever?
                • padVin the past; used to
                過去  guò qù OC: klools khas MC: kʷɑ khi̯ɤ 21 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPabBUDDH: the past
                • NPadSin the past
                • NPadVBUDDH: in the past
                • VPadNBUDDH: of the past, former, previous
                • VPiBUDDH: have gone by; be past
                古者  gǔ zhě OC: kaaʔ kljaʔ MC: kuo̝ tɕɣɛ 20 AttributionsWD

                Gǔ 古 and gǔ zhě 古者 refer specifically to ancient times and not just generally to the past.

                  Syntactic words
                • NPadSin ancient times
                  wǎng OC: ɢʷaŋʔ MC: ɦi̯ɐŋ 19 AttributionsWD

                Wǎng 往 (ant. lái 來 "future") is a general technical term for the past.

                  Word relations
                • Ant: 來/FUTURE The most current and general word for the nominalised notion of the future is probably lái 來 (ant. wǎng 往 "the past").
                • Assoc: /
                • Assoc: 昔/PAST

                  Syntactic words
                • nadSin the past, some time ago
                • v[adN]what is past> the past, what has already happened; what has already been said;  matters of the past; the first thing
                • vadNpast, previous, preceding, last
                • vibe a matter of the past, be past
                  gù OC: kaas MC: kuo̝ 19 AttributionsWD

                Gù 故 tends to be used adjectivally to characterise something as being former rather than present, and the meaning is very neatly distinct from gǔ 古 which would characterise something as being old.

                  Word relations
                • Ant: 新/NEW The current word for something newly invented is xīn 新 (ant. 舊) which generally tends to have negative connotations in cultural contexts but takes on positive connotations when referring to articles of daily use etc..
                • Assoc: 舊/OLD The general term for old age of living creatures is lǎo 老 "of old age" (ant. shào 少 "still youthful" and yòu 幼 "young"), whereas the general term for things not new is jiù 舊 (ant. xīn 新 "new").

                  Syntactic words
                • nprecedent; prevailing antecedent practice; local precedentsCH
                • nabdimension1. the past; 2. what is ancient, antiquity
                • nadNpre-existing, the earlier, early; former; belonging to a bygone age, old; old-established
                • nadVformerly; before
                  jiù OC: ɡus MC: gɨu 13 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • nadVin my distant past
                • v[adN]the old [practice, tradition]; previous [times]
                • vadNof the past
                  xiān OC: sɯɯn MC: sen 12 AttributionsWD

                  Word relations
                • Epithet: 王/KING The general term for a king of any kind is wáng 王, and in Warring States times this term can refer to all sovereign rulers, even the Son of Heaven.

                  Syntactic words
                • vad.VadNformer 先美人
                • vadNformer, earlier
                • vadVat some earlier time, before this, earlier
                宿  sù OC: suɡ MC: suk 12 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • vadNprevious, earlier; of last night, last night'sin the BUDDH. context usually referring to a former life
                • vadVbeforehand; previously; in the past; from the past
                曩者  nǎng zhě OC: naaŋʔ kljaʔ MC: nɑŋ tɕɣɛ 11 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPabtimethe time not long ago
                • NPadSsome time ago; just now
                • NPadVjust before; some time ago
                  jì OC: kɯds MC: kɨi 9 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • vadVbeforehand; in the past
                  xiàng OC: qhaŋs MC: hi̯ɐŋ
                  xiàng OC: qhaŋs MC: hi̯ɐŋ
                  xiàng OC: qhaŋs MC: hi̯ɐŋ
                曏嚮向鄉  Click here to add pinyin OC:  MC: 8 AttributionsWD

                Xiàng 鄉/曏/嚮 refers to the relatively recent past. xxx

                  Syntactic words
                • nadNpast; just now (as in "the man just now")
                • nadNfigurativeearlier-mentioned, above-mentioned
                • nadSSnot long ago
                • vadSformerly, earlier
                • vadVformerly
                  shàng OC: djaŋs MC: dʑi̯ɐŋ 8 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • nabhigh antiquity LSCQ 樂所由來者尚也 "the origin of music is in high antiquity"
                • nadVtimein ancient times; going back to ancient times
                • vibe long past
                  zuó OC: dzaaɡ MC: dzɑk 8 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • nyesterday
                • nadNimmediately preceding (day)
                • nadSyesterday
                • nadV.postN{SUBJ}yesterday
                  nǎng OC: naaŋʔ MC: nɑŋ 8 AttributionsWD

                Nǎng 曩 refers to the somewhat more distant past.

                  Syntactic words
                • nabtimenáng: the immediate past; in the immediate past
                • nad.vadNnáng: rormer; previous
                • nadNof the pastCH
                • nadVtimenáng: informal: earlier; just a while ago
                往古  wǎng gǔ OC: ɢʷaŋʔ kaaʔ MC: ɦi̯ɐŋ kuo̝ 7 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NP(adN)the contextually determinate N of antiquityCH
                • NP{N1=N2}HF3.1.37: antiquity
                • VPadNpast, previous
                久遠  jiǔ yuǎn OC: klɯʔ ɢʷanʔ MC: kɨu ɦi̯ɐn 6 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPab.adStimein the distant past
                • NPabtimethe long period of the past
                • VPadNlong-lasting
                • VPpostadNby a long time
                在昔  zài xī OC: sɡɯɯʔ sqaɡ MC: dzəi siɛk 6 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • VPadSin ancient times
                如故  rú gù OC: nja kaas MC: ȵi̯ɤ kuo̝ 6 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPabstativesituation
                • VPibe as beforeDS
                • VPpostadVas before
                往者  wǎng zhě OC: ɢʷaŋʔ kljaʔ MC: ɦi̯ɐŋ tɕɣɛ 6 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadSin the past; HF 1.3.1: formerly, not too long ago, in the not too distant past
                • NPsubjectthe past
                  jiǔ OC: klɯʔ MC: kɨu 5 AttributionsWD

                  Word relations
                • Assoc: 遠/DISTANT The clearly dominant term for distance in general is yuǎn 遠 (ant. jìn 近 "close").

                  Syntactic words
                • vadVa long time ago
                • vibe long past 久遠
                • vpostadVa long time ago
                  chū OC: tshra MC: ʈʂhi̯ɤ 5 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • nadSa long time ago, when all this started
                  yǐ OC: k-lɯʔ MC: jɨ 5 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • padVhaving V-ed; marker of the past, pidgin English: already; modern Chinese: 早已經
                  rì OC: mljiɡ MC: ȵit 5 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • nadSSome time ago
                上古  shàng gǔ OC: ɡljaŋs kaaʔ MC: dʑi̯ɐŋ kuo̝ 5 AttributionsWD

                  Syntactic words
                • NPabhigh antiquityLZ
                • NPadNof high antiquity
                • NPadSin high antiquity
                往昔  wǎng xī OC: ɢʷaŋʔ sqaɡ MC: ɦi̯ɐŋ siɛk 5 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPab.adNpast, bygone
                • NPab.adSin former times
                • NPabtimethe past
                從前  cóng qián OC: dzoŋ dzeen MC: dzi̯oŋ dzen 5 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • VPadNpast, previous
                • VPadVformerly, in the past, before
                乃往過去  nǎi wǎng guò qù OC: nɯɯʔ ɢʷaŋʔ klools khaʔ MC: nəi ɦi̯ɐŋ kʷɑ khi̯ɤ 5 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadSa very long time ago
                過去久遠  guò qù jiǔ yuǎn OC: klools khaʔ klɯʔ ɢʷanʔ MC: kʷɑ khi̯ɤ kɨu ɦi̯ɐn 5 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • VPadSin the long distant past
                  xiāng 5 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • nabmoment just pastCH
                • nadV(= xiang4 曏) in the past, beforeLZ
                  lái OC: m-rɯɯ MC: ləi 5 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • vpostadVcolloquial suffix (continuative) "having V-ed"
                先時  xiān shí OC: sɯɯn ɡljɯ MC: sen dʑɨ 3 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadSSHF 2.7.14 not too long ago
                前日  qián rì OC: dzeen mljiɡ MC: dzen ȵit 3 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadVin the past days, the previous day
                • NPtimeonce, in the past days
                昨夜  zuó yè OC: dzaaɡ k-laɡs MC: dzɑk jɣɛ 3 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadVlast night, yesterday during the night
                當時  dāng shí OC: taaŋ ɡljɯ MC: tɑŋ dʑɨ 3 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadV.postSat that time in the past (described in S)
                  shǐ OC: lʰɯʔ MC: ɕɨ 3 AttributionsWD

                  Word relations
                • Ant: 今/NOW The current word for the present is jīn 今. Note 趙歧on Mencius: 孟子傷今時之君 "of his time, contemporary".

                  Syntactic words
                • vadVformerly; originally; in the past; in the old days
                昔在  xī zài OC: sqaɡ sɡɯɯʔ MC: siɛk dzəi 3 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • VPadSFormerly
                嚮者  xiàng zhě MC: xjangH tsyaeX OC: qhaŋs kljaʔDS 3 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadVa moment agoCH
                • PPadSrecentrecently; HDC: 剛才DS
                鄉也  xiāng yě MC: xjang dzyoX OC: qhaŋ lalʔLZ 3 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • PPadV(= xiang4yě 曏也) before, not long agoLZ
                  yuǎn OC: ɢʷanʔ MC: ɦi̯ɐn 2 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • vibe distant in time, be far removed in time
                  qǐng OC: khʷleŋʔ MC: khiɛŋ 2 AttributionsWD

                Qǐng 頃 refer to the period a short time ago.

                  Syntactic words
                • nadStimeafter a short time; a short while ago
                • nadV.postN{SUBJ}in times past (also: for generations????)
                大上  dà shàng OC: daads ɡljaŋs MC: dɑi dʑi̯ɐŋ 2 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadSin the distant past; in high antiquity
                太古  tài gǔ OC: thaads kaaʔ MC: thɑi kuo̝ 2 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadSin high antiquity
                往舊  wǎng jiù OC: ɢʷaŋʔ ɡus MC: ɦi̯ɐŋ gɨu 2 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPab{N1=N2}the past, what is past
                往過去  wǎng guò qù OC: ɢʷaŋʔ klools khaʔ MC: ɦi̯ɐŋ kʷɑ khi̯ɤ 2 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadVin the past
                • VPadNof the past
                乃往久遠  nǎi wǎng jiǔ yuǎn OC: nɯɯʔ ɢʷaŋʔ klɯʔ ɢʷanʔ MC: nəi ɦi̯ɐŋ kɨu ɦi̯ɐn 2 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadSa very long time ago
                  gǔ MC: kuX OC: kaaʔCH 2 AttributionsWD

                  Word relations
                • Ant: 循/FOLLOW Xún 循 is to follow certain guidelines or a certain prescribed path, as a matter of prudential strategy, and typically in a rather mechanical or habitual manner.

                  Syntactic words
                • nabthe pastCH
                  shàng OC: ɡljaŋʔ MC: dʑi̯ɐŋ 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • nabtimein antiquity
                  qù OC: khas MC: khi̯ɤ 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • v[adN]the time/past which has gone > the past
                中古  zhōng gǔ OC: krluŋ kaaʔ MC: ʈuŋ kuo̝ 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPabtimemiddle antiquity (see also 上古 "high antiquity")
                先來  xiān lái OC: sɯɯn m-rɯɯ MC: sen ləi 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • VPadVbeforehand; from before; originally
                先古  xiān gǔ OC: sɯɯn kaaʔ MC: sen kuo̝ 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadNof ancient times
                前時  qián shí OC: dzeen ɡljɯ MC: dzen dʑɨ 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadSHF 2.7.7: not so long ago
                前者  qián zhě OC: dzeen kljaʔ MC: dzen tɕɣɛ 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadSformerly
                古來  gǔ lái OC: kaaʔ m-rɯɯ MC: kuo̝ ləi 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • VPadNof ancient times
                太上  tài shàng OC: thaads ɡljaŋs MC: thɑi dʑi̯ɐŋ 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadSIn the distant past
                往世  wǎng shì OC: ɢʷaŋʔ lʰebs MC: ɦi̯ɐŋ ɕiɛi 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPabtimepast generations> the past
                往日  wǎng rì OC: ɢʷaŋʔ mljiɡ MC: ɦi̯ɐŋ ȵit 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadVin the past, formerly
                日者  rì zhě OC: mljiɡ kljaʔ MC: ȵit tɕɣɛ 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadSin those days
                昔來  xī lái OC: sqaɡ m-rɯɯ MC: siɛk ləi 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • VPadSIn times past
                昔時  xī shí OC: sqaɡ ɡljɯ MC: siɛk dʑɨ 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadSin ancient times, formerly; some time ago
                疇昔  chóu xī OC: du sqaɡ MC: ɖɨu siɛk 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPabtimethe past
                頃來  qǐng lái OC: khʷleŋʔ m-rɯɯ MC: khiɛŋ ləi 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • VPadVin the recent past; these days
                從上以來  cóng shàng yǐ lái OC: dzoŋ ɡljaŋs k-lɯʔ m-rɯɯ MC: dzi̯oŋ dʑi̯ɐŋ jɨ ləi 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • VPadNfrom ancient times onwards
                過去世中  guò qù shì zhōng OC: klools khas lʰebs krluŋ MC: kʷɑ khi̯ɤ ɕiɛi ʈuŋ 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadSin worlds past
                  chéng OC: djeŋ MC: dʑiɛŋ 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • vadNcompleted> past 成事 "bygone matters"
                遂古  suì gǔ MC: zwijH kuX OC: sɢluds kaaʔCH 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPantiquityCH
                往時  wǎng shí MC: hjwangX dzyi OC: ɢʷaŋʔ ɡljɯDS 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadVin the past; previouslyDS
                上世  shàng shì MC: dzyangX -- OC: ɡljaŋʔ lʰebsLZ 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPthe past worldLZ
                大古  dà gǔ MC: dajH kuX OC: daads kaaʔLZ 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NP(= tai4gu3 太古) remote antiquityLZ
                故老  gù lǎo MC: kuH lawX OC: kaas ɡ-ruuʔVK 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • VP(adN)old times, past timesVK
                前世  qián shì MC: dzen -- OC: dzeen lʰebsDS 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadSin the past generationsDS
                已往  yǐ wǎng MC: yiX hjwangX OC: k-lɯʔ ɢʷaŋʔDS 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPabpast times;DS
                泰古  tài gǔ MC: thajH kuX OC: thaads kaaʔCH 1 AttributionWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPhigh antiquityCH
                他日  tā rì OC: lʰaal mljiɡ MC: thɑ ȵit 0 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadSin bygone days
                  shí OC: ɡljɯ MC: dʑɨ 0 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadSIn the past; just the other day; some time ago
                已曾  yǐ céng OC: k-lɯʔ dzɯɯŋ MC: jɨ dzəŋ 0 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • PPadVin the past already
                往往  wǎng wǎng OC: ɢʷaŋʔ ɢʷaŋʔ MC: ɦi̯ɐŋ ɦi̯ɐŋ 0 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                日久  rì jiǔ OC: mljiɡ klɯʔ MC: ȵit kɨu 0 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • VPpostadVa long time ago
                昔年  xī nián OC: sqaɡ niin MC: siɛk nen 0 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadV.postN{SUBJ}the other year; some years ago
                昔日  xī rì OC: sqaɡ mljiɡ MC: siɛk ȵit 0 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • NPadSin the past
                古今來  gǔ jīn lái OC: kaaʔ krɯm m-rɯɯ MC: kuo̝ kim ləi 0 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • VPadSfrom past times down to the present
                  běn OC: pɯɯnʔ MC: puo̝n 0 AttributionsWD
                  Syntactic words
                • nadSin the past
                • nadVin the past

                Existing SW for

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