ji5 wong5以往
Jyutpingji5 wong5
Yaleyíh wóhng
Definition
The past; formerly, in the past.
neutraltime
How it's used
Focuses on a span of time leading up to the present rather than a single point in the past. It often carries a slightly formal or reflective tone compared to the more common 以前. Use it when contrasting current circumstances with a previous state of affairs.
Examples
Life in the past was really simple.
Have you ever been there before?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using it as a direct synonym for 以前 in every context, as 以前 is more versatile for simple past references. Using 以往 in casual speech can sometimes sound slightly stiff or literary.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
