昨 (zuó) - Yesterday & the day before

昨Tone 2

zuó ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical: 日

志

昨 · zuó

Yesterday;

the day before;

the past in general.

Yesterdaythe day beforethe past in general.

Usage highlights

yesterdayyesterday morningyesterday eveningthe day before yesterdayyesterday's newspaperpast events

Synonyms

  • 昔日— bygone days; former times
  • 往日— past days; former times

Antonyms

  • 今— today; now
  • 明— tomorrow; bright

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I went to the park yesterday (昨天).
  • Yesterday's weather was beautiful (昨日的天气).
  • He arrived the day before yesterday (前天).
  • We cannot change what happened yesterday (昨日之事).

Collocations

  • yesterday(昨天)
  • yesterday morning(昨天早上)
  • yesterday evening(昨天晚上)
  • the day before yesterday(前天)
  • yesterday's newspaper(昨天的报纸)
  • past events(往事)

Idioms

  • Today is better than yesterday(今胜于昨)
  • Regret yesterday, hope for tomorrow(悔昨望明)
  • Yesterday's enemy is today's friend(昨敌今友)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Represents the immediate past, often used in contrast with 'today' (今) and 'tomorrow' (明).
  • In philosophical contexts, it symbolizes the transient nature of time and the importance of learning from the past.
  • Commonly appears in expressions about memory, reflection, and the passage of time.

FAQ