wong5 nin4往年
Jyutpingwong5 nin4
Yalewóhng nìhn
Definition
Previous years; the past few years or a period of time in the past measured in years.
neutraltime
How it's used
Refers specifically to the period of previous years rather than a single past year. It carries a slightly formal tone compared to the more common spoken expression 舊時, which is broader and can refer to any time in the past. Use this when making comparisons between current trends and historical patterns.
Examples
It was not this cold at this time in previous years.
Have you been traveling in years past?
Related words
Common phrases
the same period in previous years
Common mistake
Avoid using this to refer to the immediate past year, as it implies a collection of years or a general past period. For the year immediately preceding the current one, use 舊年 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
