昨 zuó yesterday
How to remember 昨: 日 sun + 乍 suddenly = yesterday. When the sun suddenly comes out, the gardener laughs "And it was pouring all day yesterday!"
Component breakdown
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
昨 = 日 sun + 乍 suddenly
- 日 sun meaning
- 乍 suddenly sound
When the sun suddenly comes out, the gardener laughs "And it was pouring all day yesterday!"
How it came to be
The small seal form puts the sun for the meaning beside the suddenly block for the sound.
How it is used
- Essentially only in 昨天 (zuótiān) yesterday. It doesn't stand alone in modern speech.
- Contrast the time trio: 昨天 yesterday, 今天 today, 明天 tomorrow.
Words with 昨
Example sentences
- 昨天的气温很低。 Zuótiān de qìwēn hěn dī.The temperature was very low yesterday.
- 我从昨天开始戒烟。 Wǒ cóng zuótiān kāishǐ jièyān.I've stopped smoking as of yesterday.