xưa kia
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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.)