昔

xī

日 + 龷

Definitions

xī (noun) former times; past

Etymology

Depicts a period of time (日) in the past where there was a disastrous flood (𡿧).

About

The character 昔 (xī) combines 日 (rì, "sun" or "day") with 𡿧, an old pictograph of a disastrous flood. Together they evoke a past time marked by a great deluge, conveying the idea of bygone days. This meaning eventually generalized, and 昔 now simply denotes the past or former times.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

昔日这里很繁华。

Xīrì zhèlǐ hěn fánhuá.

In the past, this place was very prosperous.

昔日的朋友已远去。

Xīrì de péngyou yǐ yuǎn qù.

The friends from the past have already gone far away.

今昔对比变化大。

Jīn xī duìbǐ biànhuà dà.

Comparing past and present, the changes are big.

他常回忆往昔时光。

Tā cháng huíyì wǎngxī shíguāng.

He often recalls the past times.

昔日的梦想如今实现。

Xīrì de mèngxiǎng rújīn shíxiàn.

The dreams from the past have now come true.

讲述昔日的冒险故事。

Jiǎngshù xīrì de màoxiǎn gùshi.

Telling adventure stories from the past.

昔年往事难以忘怀。

Xī nián wǎngshì nányǐ wànghuái.

Past events from years ago are hard to forget.

追溯昔日的文明踪迹。

Zhuīsù xīrì de wénmíng zōngjì.

Tracing the traces of past civilization.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 日

Component: 龷

Example Words