Definition

1. Adverbial phrase of time:
   • In the past / long ago / formerly: Refers to a time that has already passed, often with a sense of nostalgia or a distant, bygone era. It is used to begin a narrative or recollection about past events.

Usage Examples

• Adverbial phrase:
  • Khi xưa, ông bà tôi sống ở một làng quê nhỏ. (Long ago, my grandparents lived in a small village.)
  • Câu chuyện này xảy ra khi xưa. (This story happened in the past.)
  • Khi xưa, nơi đây chỉ là một cánh đồng. (Formerly, this place was just a field.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is often used at the beginning of sentences, similar to "once upon a time," to set a temporal scene for a story or memory. It evokes a poetic or reflective tone.

Variants and Related Words

• Ngày xưa (adverbial phrase): In the old days, once upon a time. A very close synonym, often used interchangeably.

  • Ngày xưa có một vị vua. (Once upon a time, there was a king.)

• Thuở xưa (adverbial phrase): In times of yore, in ancient times. Carries a more literary or poetic nuance.

  • Thuở xưa, loài rồng vẫn còn tồn tại. (In times of yore, dragons still existed.)

Synonyms

• In the past: At a time before the present.
• Long ago: At a time far in the past.
• Formerly: In earlier times.
• Once upon a time: A traditional opening for a story set in the past.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Chuyện khi xưa: Stories from the past, old tales.
  • Bà tôi thường kể những chuyện khi xưa. (My grandmother often told stories from the past.)