很久很久以前
hěnjiǔ hěnjiǔ yǐqián
The English phrase "once upon a time" can be translated into Chinese as 很久很久以前 (hěnjiǔ hěnjiǔ yǐqián) or 從前. Wiktionary also lists 從前 / 从前 (cóngqián).
Meaning: traditional beginning of children’s stories, especially fairy tales (adv)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 很久很久以前 | hěnjiǔ hěnjiǔ yǐqián |
| 從前 / 从前 | cóngqián |
These phrases are used as the traditional beginning of children’s stories, particularly fairy tales.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 很久很久以前 literally means "a very long, long time ago". The phrase 從前 literally means "from before" or "in the past".
Which one should you use?
從前 is more concise and can be used in written literature, while 很久很久以前 is more repetitive and characteristic of oral storytelling.
How does it change in a sentence?
In 很久很久以前, the repetition of 很久 (very long) serves to emphasize the vastness of time, mirroring the English expression "long, long ago".
How do you pronounce it?
hěnjiǔ hěnjiǔ yǐqián
Did you know?
- In traditional Chinese oral storytelling, a performer might begin a tale with 很久很久以前 while simultaneously tapping a wooden block called a 拍板 to set a rhythmic beat.
- While 很久很久以前 starts the story, Chinese folk tales often end with a phrase like 故事讲完了 ('the story is finished') or a moral lesson, rather than a standard phrase like 'they lived happily ever after'.
- The word 前 in 從前 can also mean 'front' or 'forward', creating a linguistic irony where a phrase meaning 'in the past' uses a character associated with the direction ahead.
Examples in context
- 很久很久以前，有一座城堡。Hěnjiǔ hěnjiǔ yǐqián, yǒu yī zuò chéngbǎo.Once upon a time, there was a castle.
- 很久很久以前，有一位公主。Hěnjiǔ hěnjiǔ yǐqián, yǒu yī wèi gōngzhǔ.Once upon a time, there was a princess.
- 很久很久以前，森林裡住著巨龍。Hěnjiǔ hěnjiǔ yǐqián, sēnlín lǐ zhùzhe jùlóng.Once upon a time, a giant dragon lived in the forest.
Example conversation
A father reading a bedtime story to his daughter.
- 浩然 Haoran很久很久以前，有一隻小兔子。Hěnjiǔ hěnjiǔ yǐqián, yǒu yī zhī xiǎo tùzǐ.Once upon a time, there was a little rabbit.
- 梓涵 Zihan那是浩然爸爸說的故事嗎？Nà shì Hàorán bàba shuō de gùshì ma?Is that a story told by Daddy Haoran?
- 浩然 Haoran是的，梓涵想聽嗎？Shì de, Zǐhán xiǎng tīng ma?Yes, does Zihan want to hear it?
- 梓涵 Zihan我想聽！Wǒ xiǎng tīng!I want to hear it!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “once upon a time” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
