Definition

1. Adverb:
   • Formerly; in the past; long ago: Refers to a time that is significantly distant from the present, often evoking a sense of a bygone era or historical period. It is used to begin narratives or describe conditions that existed a long time ago.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Xưa kia, ở vùng đất này có một vị vua anh minh. (Formerly, in this land, there was a wise king.)
  • Căn nhà xưa kia là một ngôi trường nhỏ. (That house was formerly a small school.)
  • Phong tục xưa kia khác bây giờ nhiều. (The customs of long ago are very different from now.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to contrast the past with the present, often highlighting change or nostalgia.
  • Xưa kia đường sá chật hẹp, nay đã mở rộng. (In the past, the roads were narrow; now they have been widened.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngày xưa (adv): In the old days; once upon a time. Often used interchangeably with "xưa kia," especially in storytelling.

  • Ngày xưa có một cô bé tên là Tấm. (Once upon a time, there was a girl named Tam.)

• Thuở xưa (adv): In times of yore; in ancient times. A more literary or poetic variant.

  • Thuở xưa, rồng thường xuất hiện trong truyền thuyết. (In times of yore, dragons often appeared in legends.)

Synonyms

• Formerly: At a previous time.
• Once: At some time in the past.
• In the past: During a period before the present.
• Long ago: At a time far in the past.
• In bygone days: In past times.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Xưa kia vàng son: Refers to a glorious, prosperous, or golden age in the past.
  • Ông cụ hay kể về thời xưa kia vàng son của gia tộc. (The old man often tells stories about the family's golden age in the past.)

adv

1. formely