以前的事 (yǐqián de shì) - things of the past
Grammar & Usage
How it works
This phrase literally translates to 'before's matters/things'. 以前 (yǐqián) means 'before' or 'formerly', functioning here as an adverbial modifier. 的 (de) is a possessive/attributive particle, linking 以前 to the noun 事 (shì), which means 'thing', 'matter', or 'event'. Together, it refers to events or things that happened in the past.
Sample sentences
那些以前的事，就让它过去吧。
Let those things of the past be bygones.
我们应该向前看，而不是总是沉湎于以前的事。
We should look forward, instead of always dwelling on things of the past.
以前的事虽然痛苦，但也教会了我很多。
Although things of the past were painful, they also taught me a lot.
Quick facts
Mnemonic
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Example
那些以前的事，就让它过去吧。
Let those things of the past be bygones.
我们应该向前看，而不是总是沉湎于以前的事。
We should look forward, instead of always dwelling on things of the past.
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