从前

從前
cóngqián
noun HSK 3 #4,659

Meanings

  1. 1 formerly
  2. 2 once upon a time
  3. 3 in the past

Examples

HSK 1
Zhèlǐ gēn cóngqián bù yīyàng le.
This place is different from before.
HSK 2
Cóngqián de shì jiù bùyào zài tí le.
Don't bring up things from the past anymore.
HSK 6
Cóngqián yǒu yī gè guówáng.
Once upon a time, there was a king.

Tips

usage
从前 at the beginning of a sentence means 'once upon a time' and is the standard opening for Chinese fairy tales and folk stories, like English 'once upon a time'.

Stroke Order

cóng
qián