往事 wǎngshì past events
past events; former happenings
How to remember 往事: 往 towards + 事 matter = past events.
Characters
How it is used
- Past events, bygone matters - 回忆往事 (huíyì wǎngshì) to recall the past; 往事如烟 (wǎngshì rú yān) the past drifts away like smoke.
- Carries a nostalgic, reflective tone about personal history one looks back on.
- Contrast neutral 过去 (guòqù, the past in general); 往事 is specific remembered episodes, often wistful.
Example sentences
- 旧照片让我想起了往事。 Jiù zhàopiàn ràng wǒ xiǎngqǐle wǎngshì.The old pictures remind me of the past.