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    Chinese Grammar

    Referring to 'that time' with 那时 (nàshí)

    Time Expressions

    Structure

    从 + 那时 + 起

    Explanation

    那时 (nàshí) means "that time" or "at that moment" and is used to refer to a specific point in the past. It is commonly combined with 起 (qǐ) in the phrase 从那时起 meaning "from that time on." This phrase marks the starting point of a change or ongoing state.

    Examples

    • 那时我才十岁，什么都不懂。

      Nà shí wǒ cái shí suì, shénme dōu bù dǒng.

      At that time I was only ten years old and didn't understand anything.

    • 从那时起，他就下定决心要学好中文。

      Cóng nà shí qǐ, tā jiù xià dìng juéxīn yào xué hǎo Zhōngwén.

      From that time on, he made up his mind to learn Chinese well.

    • 那时的北京还没有这么多高楼。

      Nà shí de Běijīng hái méiyǒu zhème duō gāolóu.

      At that time, Beijing didn't have this many tall buildings.

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    Referring to 'that time' with 那时 (nàshí) | Chinese Grammar