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往年 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
往年wǎngniánin former yearsHSK 6, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #24029, Hard
往年wǎngniánin previous yearsHSK 6, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #24029, Hard
wǎngnián(wang3nian2)wang nian T3
  1. 1in former years
  2. 2in previous years
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March 24, 2026

往年wǎngnián(wang3nian2)

往年 (wǎng nián) refers to years that have passed, typically indicating a time in the past that is being reflected upon. It is often used in discussions about experiences, events, or changes that occurred in previous years, emphasizing a sense of nostalgia or comparison to the present.

Strokes14Frequency#24029DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, reflecting on 往年 is significant during festivals like the Spring Festival (春节), when families often share stories about the past year and reminisce about their experiences.

Memory Tip

Imagine a river flowing backwards, carrying memories and events from past years. The character 往 (wǎng) suggests 'to go' or 'to move towards' and 年 (nián) means 'year.' Together, they evoke the idea of years moving away from us into the past.

Meanings of 往年

wǎngnián(wang3nian2)
1in former years
2in previous years
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About 往年

往年Simplified
14Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

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Podcast: 往年

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AI Study Notes for 往年

Quick Contrast

往昔 (wǎngxī) - use 往年 when referring to specific past years, while 往昔 emphasizes a more general sense of the past.

Usage Notes

往年 is typically used in a formal context, such as in literature, speeches, or reflective discussions. A common mistake is to confuse it with 今年 (jīn nián), which means 'this year.' Make sure to use the correct context when discussing past events.

HSK Study Tips

While 往年 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects to other time-related words like 今年 (jīn nián) and 明年 (míng nián). Focus on using it in sentences that compare past experiences to current ones to deepen understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 往年 with 过去 (guòqù), which means 'the past' in a broader sense. A mistake would be saying '我会想到过去' when they mean '往年' in a reflective context; the correction would be '我会想到往年'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 往年

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Component Characters

往wǎngto go (in a direction)
HSK 28 strokes彳
View full entry
年niányear
HSK 16 strokes干
View full entry

How to say in former years in Chinese

“in former years” in Chinese is往年wǎngnián

往年 (wǎng nián) refers to years that have passed, typically indicating a time in the past that is being reflected upon. It is often used in discussions about experiences, events, or changes that occurred in previous years, emphasizing a sense of nostalgia or comparison to the present.

When to use 往年

往年 is typically used in a formal context, such as in literature, speeches, or reflective discussions. A common mistake is to confuse it with 今年 (jīn nián), which means 'this year.' Make sure to use the correct context when discussing past events.

往年 or something close to it

往昔 (wǎngxī) - use 往年 when referring to specific past years, while 往昔 emphasizes a more general sense of the past.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 往年 with 过去 (guòqù), which means 'the past' in a broader sense. A mistake would be saying '我会想到过去' when they mean '往年' in a reflective context; the correction would be '我会想到往年'.

Write 往年

往
年

Practice writing 往年 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 往年

You could say: '往年我常常去旅行' (In previous years, I often traveled).

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