先時

先時

1. earlier times; in the beginning

   • 如今的這榮寧二府也都蕭索了，不比先時的光景。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     如今的这荣宁二府也都萧索了，不比先时的光景。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: Cao Xueqin, Dream of the Red Chamber, mid-18^th century CE

     Rújīn de zhè Róng Níng èr fǔ yě dōu xiāosuǒ le, bùbǐ xiānshí de guāngjǐng.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1877, Donald Bruce, “Lesson 62”, in Easy Phrases in the Canton Dialect of the Chinese Language, 2nd edition, San Francisco: Bruce's Printing House:

     個件事我先時唔知 [Cantonese, trad.]
     个件事我先时唔知 [Cantonese, simp.]

     go³ gin⁶ si⁶ ngo⁵ sin¹ si⁴ m⁴ zi¹

     I did not know that before.

   • 1899, 馬可福音：中西字 [The Gospel according to St. Mark in English and Cantonese], Shanghai: American Presbyterian Mission Press, page 20:

     嚟到耶穌處、見先時被成軍嘅鬼所迷之人、坐倒處、着翻衣服、自自在在、佢哋就慌起嚟 [Cantonese, trad.]
     嚟到耶稣处、见先时被成军嘅鬼所迷之人、坐倒处、着翻衣服、自自在在、佢哋就慌起嚟 [Cantonese, simp.]

     lai⁴ dou³ je⁴ sou¹ cyu², gin³ sin¹ si⁴ bei⁶ sing⁴ gwan¹ ge³ gwai² so² mai⁴ zi¹ jan⁴, co⁵ dou² cyu³, zoek³ faan¹ ji¹ fuk⁶, zi⁶ zi⁶ zoi⁶ zoi⁶, keoi⁵ dei⁶ zau⁶ fong¹ hei² lai⁴

     And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.