wong5 zan2往陣往阵
Jyutpingwong5 zan2
Yalewóhng ján
Definition
Previously; in the past; formerly.
colloquialtime
How it's used
Refers specifically to a period of time that has already passed, often carrying a sense of nostalgia or comparison with the present. It functions as a temporal adverb and is frequently used to contrast how things were done previously versus now. It is strictly colloquial and sounds unnatural in formal writing or professional settings.
Examples
We used to go play there all the time in the past.
Related words
Common phrases
back in the day
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 以前, which is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Unlike 以前, 往陣 is strictly spoken and cannot be used to start a sentence in a formal essay or news report.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
