❶ (从前； 过去) former times; the past: 往 ～ in the past; in former times; 今 ～ 对比 contrast the past with the present; 今胜于 ～。 The present is superior to the past. ❷ （姓氏） a surname: ～ 登 Xi Deng ◆昔年 [书] in former years; 昔日 in former days; in former times; in the past; in the old days; 昔时 [书] in former days [times]; yore