noun / adverb HSK 5
in the past · formerly · previously
Meaning
以往 is a formal way to refer to the past or previous times. It often appears in written Chinese or formal speech when contrasting past situations with the present. The word emphasizes a general period in the past rather than a specific moment.
Usage
Commonly used at the beginning of sentences or clauses to set up a comparison between past and present. It's more formal than 以前 (yǐqián) and frequently appears in written contexts, news reports, and formal discussions. Native speakers use it when reflecting on how things used to be.
Examples
- 01与以往不同，今年的会议采用了线上形式。, .Different from the past, this year's conference adopted an online format.
- 02他比以往任何时候都更加努力工作。.He is working harder than at any time in the past.
Characters
Common collocations
- 与以往不同different from the past
- 以往的经验past experience
- 不同于以往different from before
- 以往任何时候any time in the past
Antonyms
Origin
以 originally meant 'to use' or 'by means of', while 往 means 'to go' or 'direction'. Together they literally suggest 'according to what has gone' or 'by way of the past', creating the meaning of 'formerly'.