很早以前

hěnzǎoyǐqián

phrase #21,532

Meanings

1 long ago
2 a long time ago
3 once upon a time

Characters

early / long past

before / in front of / past

Examples

很早以前，这里是一片森林。

Hěn zǎo yǐqián, zhèlǐ shì yī piàn sēnlín.

Long ago, this place was a forest.

很早以前，他们就认识了。

Hěn zǎo yǐqián, tāmen jiù rènshi le.

They had known each other long ago.

Tips

usage

很早以前 is used like English 'long ago' or 'once upon a time' and often begins stories or narratives. The phrase is naturally spoken with spaces: 很早以前.

Stroke Order

很 hěn

早 zǎo

以 yǐ

前 qián