PAST    過去昔

PERIOD BEFORE NOW.
FORMERLYHISTORYBACKGROUNDPREVIOUSLYEARLIERBEFOREUNTIL NOW/THENHITHERTONéeONCEONCE UPON A TIMEAT ONE TIMEIN THE PASTFORMAL HERETOFORE
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 昔 往 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 ／
Hyponym
  • RECENT　PAST AND NOT DISTANT. (anc: 5/0, child: 1)
  • FORMER　Who in the PAST was something X BUT HAS BECOME NOT X at the PRESENT. (anc: 5/0, child: 0)
  • ORIGIN　PAST as DISTANT OR NEAR CAUSE of SOMETHING. (anc: 5/0, child: 1)
  • ANCIENT　INTENSELY PAST (anc: 5/0, child: 0)
  • OLD-FASHIONED　PAST AND ALREADY NOT MODERN OR GOOD (anc: 5/0, child: 0)
Antonym
  • FUTURETIME PERIOD LATE IN-RELATION-TO NOW.
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.
Hypernym
  • TIME　ABSTRACT OBJECT that all EVENTS ARE-IN. (anc: 3/0, child: 11)
  • OBJECT　[NO HYPERNYM.] WHAT one CAN NAME:refer to. (anc: 2/0, child: 6)
  • PRIME　 (anc: 1/0, child: 2)
  • 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 (86 items)

    昔者  xī zhě OC: sqaɡ kljaʔ MC: siɛk tɕɣɛ 49 Attributions
      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
    前  qián OC: dzeen MC: dzen 37 Attributions

      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
    嘗  cháng OC: djaŋ MC: dʑi̯ɐŋ
    常  cháng OC: djaŋ MC: dʑi̯ɐŋ 37 Attributions

    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; 
    昔  xī OC: sqaɡ MC: siɛk 32 Attributions

      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
    曾  céng OC: dzɯɯŋ MC: dzəŋ 25 Attributions

    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
    古者  gǔ zhě OC: kaaʔ kljaʔ MC: kuo̝ tɕɣɛ 21 Attributions

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

      Syntactic words
    • NPadSin ancient times
    過去  guò qù OC: klools khas MC: kʷɑ khi̯ɤ 21 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPabBUDDH: the past
    • NPadSin the past
    • NPadVBUDDH: in the past
    • VPadNBUDDH: of the past, former, previous
    • VPiBUDDH: have gone by; be past
    往  wǎng OC: ɢʷaŋʔ MC: ɦi̯ɐŋ 19 Attributions

    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
    故  gù OC: kaas MC: kuo̝ 19 Attributions

    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
    舊  jiù OC: ɡus MC: gɨu 15 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • nadVin my distant past
    • v[adN]the old [practice, tradition]; previous [times]
    • vadNof the past
    先  xiān OC: sɯɯn MC: sen 12 Attributions

      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 Attributions
      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 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPabtimethe time not long ago
    • NPadSsome time ago; just now
    • NPadVjust before; some time ago
    既  jì OC: kɯds MC: kɨi 9 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • vadVbeforehand; in the past
    尚  shàng OC: djaŋs MC: dʑi̯ɐŋ 8 Attributions
      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
    昨  zuó OC: dzaaɡ MC: dzɑk 8 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • nyesterday
    • nadNimmediately preceding (day)
    • nadSyesterday
    • nadV.postN{SUBJ}yesterday
    曏  xiàng OC: qhaŋs MC: hi̯ɐŋ
    嚮  xiàng OC: qhaŋs MC: hi̯ɐŋ
    向  xiàng OC: qhaŋs MC: hi̯ɐŋ
    曏嚮向鄉  Click here to add pinyin OC:  MC: 8 Attributions

    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
    曩  nǎng OC: naaŋʔ MC: nɑŋ 8 Attributions

    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 Attributions
      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 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPab.adStimein the distant past
    • NPabtimethe long period of the past
    • VPadNlong-lasting
    • VPpostadNby a long time
    往者  wǎng zhě OC: ɢʷaŋʔ kljaʔ MC: ɦi̯ɐŋ tɕɣɛ 6 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPadSin the past; HF 1.3.1: formerly, not too long ago, in the not too distant past
    • NPsubjectthe past
    如故  rú gù OC: nja kaas MC: ȵi̯ɤ kuo̝ 6 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPabstativesituation
    • VPibe as beforeDS
    • VPpostadVas before
    在昔  zài xī OC: sɡɯɯʔ sqaɡ MC: dzəi siɛk 6 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPadSin ancient times
    過去久遠  guò qù jiǔ yuǎn OC: klools khaʔ klɯʔ ɢʷanʔ MC: kʷɑ khi̯ɤ kɨu ɦi̯ɐn 5 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPadSin the long distant past
    鄉  xiāng 5 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • nabmoment just pastCH
    • nadV(= xiang4 曏) in the past, beforeLZ
    乃往過去  nǎi wǎng guò qù OC: nɯɯʔ ɢʷaŋʔ klools khaʔ MC: nəi ɦi̯ɐŋ kʷɑ khi̯ɤ 5 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPadSa very long time ago
    上古  shàng gǔ OC: ɡljaŋs kaaʔ MC: dʑi̯ɐŋ kuo̝ 5 Attributions

      Syntactic words
    • NPabhigh antiquityLZ
    • NPadNof high antiquity
    • NPadSin high antiquity
    久  jiǔ OC: klɯʔ MC: kɨu 5 Attributions

      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
    來  lái OC: m-rɯɯ MC: ləi 5 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • vpostadVcolloquial suffix (continuative) "having V-ed"
    初  chū OC: tshra MC: ʈʂhi̯ɤ 5 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • nadSa long time ago, when all this started
    已  yǐ OC: k-lɯʔ MC: jɨ 5 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • padVhaving V-ed; marker of the past, pidgin English: already; modern Chinese: 早已經
    日  rì OC: mljiɡ MC: ȵit 5 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • nadSSome time ago
    從前  cóng qián OC: dzoŋ dzeen MC: dzi̯oŋ dzen 5 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPadNpast, previous
    • VPadVformerly, in the past, before
    往昔  wǎng xī OC: ɢʷaŋʔ sqaɡ MC: ɦi̯ɐŋ siɛk 5 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPab.adNpast, bygone
    • NPab.adSin former times
    • NPabtimethe past
    當時  dāng shí OC: taaŋ ɡljɯ MC: tɑŋ dʑɨ 3 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPadV.postSat that time in the past (described in S)
    昔在  xī zài OC: sqaɡ sɡɯɯʔ MC: siɛk dzəi 3 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPadSFormerly
    昨夜  zuó yè OC: dzaaɡ k-laɡs MC: dzɑk jɣɛ 3 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPadVlast night, yesterday during the night
    先時  xiān shí OC: sɯɯn ɡljɯ MC: sen dʑɨ 3 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPadSSHF 2.7.14 not too long ago
    始  shǐ OC: lʰɯʔ MC: ɕɨ 3 Attributions

      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
    前日  qián rì OC: dzeen mljiɡ MC: dzen ȵit 3 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPadVin the past days, the previous day
    • NPtimeonce, in the past days
    鄉也  xiāng yě MC: xjang dzyoX OC: qhaŋ lalʔ 3 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • PPadV(= xiang4yě 曏也) before, not long agoLZ
    嚮者  xiàng zhě MC: xjangH tsyaeX OC: qhaŋs kljaʔ 3 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPadVa moment agoCH
    • PPadSrecentrecently; HDC: 剛才DS
    遠  yuǎn OC: ɢʷanʔ MC: ɦi̯ɐn 2 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • vibe distant in time, be far removed in time
    往舊  wǎng jiù OC: ɢʷaŋʔ ɡus MC: ɦi̯ɐŋ gɨu 2 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPab{N1=N2}the past, what is past
    頃  qǐng OC: khʷleŋʔ MC: khiɛŋ 2 Attributions

    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 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPadSin the distant past; in high antiquity
    太古  tài gǔ OC: thaads kaaʔ MC: thɑi kuo̝ 2 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPadSin high antiquity
    往過去  wǎng guò qù OC: ɢʷaŋʔ klools khaʔ MC: ɦi̯ɐŋ kʷɑ khi̯ɤ 2 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPadVin the past
    • VPadNof the past
    古  gǔ MC: kuX OC: kaaʔ 2 Attributions

      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
    乃往久遠  nǎi wǎng jiǔ yuǎn OC: nɯɯʔ ɢʷaŋʔ klɯʔ ɢʷanʔ MC: nəi ɦi̯ɐŋ kɨu ɦi̯ɐn 2 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPadSa very long time ago
    泰古  tài gǔ MC: thajH kuX OC: thaads kaaʔ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • NPhigh antiquityCH
    太上  tài shàng OC: thaads ɡljaŋs MC: thɑi dʑi̯ɐŋ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • NPadSIn the distant past
    大古  dà gǔ MC: dajH kuX OC: daads kaaʔ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • NP(= tai4gu3 太古) remote antiquityLZ
    疇昔  chóu xī OC: du sqaɡ MC: ɖɨu siɛk 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • NPabtimethe past
    先來  xiān lái OC: sɯɯn m-rɯɯ MC: sen ləi 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPadVbeforehand; from before; originally
    先古  xiān gǔ OC: sɯɯn kaaʔ MC: sen kuo̝ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • NPadNof ancient times
    昔來  xī lái OC: sqaɡ m-rɯɯ MC: siɛk ləi 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPadSIn times past
    頃來  qǐng lái OC: khʷleŋʔ m-rɯɯ MC: khiɛŋ ləi 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPadVin the recent past; these days
    過去世中  guò qù shì zhōng OC: klools khas lʰebs krluŋ MC: kʷɑ khi̯ɤ ɕiɛi ʈuŋ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • NPadSin worlds past
    已往  yǐ wǎng MC: yiX hjwangX OC: k-lɯʔ ɢʷaŋʔ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • NPabpast times;DS
    上世  shàng shì MC: dzyangX -- OC: ɡljaŋʔ lʰebs 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • NPthe past worldLZ
    昔時  xī shí OC: sqaɡ ɡljɯ MC: siɛk dʑɨ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • NPadSin ancient times, formerly; some time ago
    故老  gù lǎo MC: kuH lawX OC: kaas ɡ-ruuʔ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VP(adN)old times, past timesVK
    前世  qián shì MC: dzen -- OC: dzeen lʰebs 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • NPadSin the past generationsDS
    從上以來  cóng shàng yǐ lái OC: dzoŋ ɡljaŋs k-lɯʔ m-rɯɯ MC: dzi̯oŋ dʑi̯ɐŋ jɨ ləi 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPadNfrom ancient times onwards
    中古  zhōng gǔ OC: krluŋ kaaʔ MC: ʈuŋ kuo̝ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • NPabtimemiddle antiquity (see also 上古 "high antiquity")
    遂古  suì gǔ MC: zwijH kuX OC: sɢluds kaaʔ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • NPantiquityCH
    上  shàng OC: ɡljaŋʔ MC: dʑi̯ɐŋ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • nabtimein antiquity
    去  qù OC: khas MC: khi̯ɤ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • v[adN]the time/past which has gone > the past
    日者  rì zhě OC: mljiɡ kljaʔ MC: ȵit tɕɣɛ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • NPadSin those days
    前時  qián shí OC: dzeen ɡljɯ MC: dzen dʑɨ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • NPadSHF 2.7.7: not so long ago
    往世  wǎng shì OC: ɢʷaŋʔ lʰebs MC: ɦi̯ɐŋ ɕiɛi 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • NPabtimepast generations> the past
    成  chéng OC: djeŋ MC: dʑiɛŋ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • vadNcompleted> past 成事 "bygone matters"
    往日  wǎng rì OC: ɢʷaŋʔ mljiɡ MC: ɦi̯ɐŋ ȵit 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • NPadVin the past, formerly
    往時  wǎng shí MC: hjwangX dzyi OC: ɢʷaŋʔ ɡljɯ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • NPadVin the past; previouslyDS
    前者  qián zhě OC: dzeen kljaʔ MC: dzen tɕɣɛ 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • NPadSformerly
    古來  gǔ lái OC: kaaʔ m-rɯɯ MC: kuo̝ ləi 1 Attribution
      Syntactic words
    • VPadNof ancient times
    日久  rì jiǔ OC: mljiɡ klɯʔ MC: ȵit kɨu 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPpostadVa long time ago
    昔年  xī nián OC: sqaɡ niin MC: siɛk nen 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPadV.postN{SUBJ}the other year; some years ago
    昔日  xī rì OC: sqaɡ mljiɡ MC: siɛk ȵit 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPadSin the past
    古今來  gǔ jīn lái OC: kaaʔ krɯm m-rɯɯ MC: kuo̝ kim ləi 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • VPadSfrom past times down to the present
    已曾  yǐ céng OC: k-lɯʔ dzɯɯŋ MC: jɨ dzəŋ 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • PPadVin the past already
    時  shí OC: ɡljɯ MC: dʑɨ 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPadSIn the past; just the other day; some time ago
    本  běn OC: pɯɯnʔ MC: puo̝n 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • nadSin the past
    • nadVin the past
    往往  wǎng wǎng OC: ɢʷaŋʔ ɢʷaŋʔ MC: ɦi̯ɐŋ ɦi̯ɐŋ 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    他日  tā rì OC: lʰaal mljiɡ MC: thɑ ȵit 0 Attributions
      Syntactic words
    • NPadSin bygone days