HSK 1, t, 9 strokes, radical 日, rank #29630, Very Hard
昨
zuó
yesterday; formerly, in the past
HSK 1, t, 9 strokes, radical 日, rank #29630, Very Hard
zuó(zuo2) T2
1yesterday
2yesterday; formerly, in the past
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March 24, 2026
昨zuó(zuo2)
The character 昨 (zuó) means 'yesterday' in Mandarin. It is commonly used to refer to the day before the current one and can also imply a sense of something that occurred in the past. In broader contexts, it can denote a former situation or condition.
Strokes9Radical日Frequency#29630DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, discussing yesterday or the past can have deep significance, especially in the context of family stories and traditions. The concept of reflecting on past actions or events is often emphasized during festivals and family gatherings.
Memory Tip
Imagine a glowing sun (日) setting behind a mountain (月), symbolizing the end of the day. The character 昨 combines the sun and the moon to represent the transition from today to yesterday. Remember 'zuó' sounds like 'saw,' as in something you saw yesterday.
Meanings of 昨
zuó(zuo2)
1yesterday
2yesterday; formerly, in the past
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 昨
昨Simplified
9Strokes
日Radical
时间词time word (t.)Part of Speech
#29630Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1
Podcast: 昨
Podcast: 昨
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AI Study Notes for 昨
Quick Contrast
前 (qián, meaning 'before' in a temporal sense) is used for events that occurred prior to a specific point in time, while 昨 (zuó) specifically refers to the day before today.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a glowing sun (日) setting behind a mountain (月), symbolizing the end of the day. The character 昨 combines the sun and the moon to represent the transition from today to yesterday. Remember 'zuó' sounds like 'saw,' as in something you saw yesterday.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 昨 with other time-related words like 今天 (jīntiān, today) or 明天 (míngtiān, tomorrow). 昨 is used primarily in informal contexts but can also appear in formal speech, especially when discussing past events. Remember to use it with appropriate time indicators.
HSK Study Tips
Although 昨 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it is essential for beginners to understand basic time expressions. Students should connect it with related terms like 今天 (today) and 明天 (tomorrow) to build a solid foundation in discussing time.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, discussing yesterday or the past can have deep significance, especially in the context of family stories and traditions. The concept of reflecting on past actions or events is often emphasized during festivals and family gatherings.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 昨 with 明 (míng, bright, tomorrow) or 今天 (jīntiān, today). A common error is saying 昨天我吃过 to mean 'Yesterday I will eat.' The correct phrase is 昨天我吃了 (Zuótiān wǒ chī le).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 昨
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Grammar Patterns of 昨
昨 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
The cross-country section of the three-day event was held here yesterday.
8
昨天在华盛顿举行的中东和谈有了取得进展的迹象。
zuó tiān zài huá shèng dùn jǔ háng de zhōng dōng hé tán yǒu le qǔ dé jìn zhǎn de jì xiàng。
Middle East peace talks in Washington showed signs of progress yesterday.
9
有个小流氓昨晚扎了她一刀。
yǒu gè xiǎo liú máng zuó wǎn zā le tā yī dāo。
Some punk stuck a knife in her last night.
10
几个帮派昨晚聚众闹事，他们打碎商店临街的玻璃窗，并投掷石块和瓶子。
jī gè bāng pài zuó wǎn jù zhòng nào shì， ， tā mén dǎ suì shāng diàn lín jiē de bō lí， chuāng ， bìng tóu zhì shí kuài hé。
Gangs rioted last night, breaking storefront windows and hurling rocks and bottles.
Cultural Notes for 昨
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, discussing yesterday or the past can have deep significance, especially in the context of family stories and traditions. The concept of reflecting on past actions or events is often emphasized during festivals and family gatherings.
Word Family of 昨
Compounds1
葃
Words Containing This Character6
昨天zuótiānyesterday
昨晚last night
昨日yesterday
昨zuóyesterday
昨夜last night
昨儿(coll.) yesterday昨兒
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 昨天 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 昨
You can say 昨天我去商店 (Zuótiān wǒ qù shāngdiàn), which means 'Yesterday, I went to the store.'
While it primarily means 'yesterday,' it can also imply anything that occurred in the past.
昨天 (zuótiān) specifically means 'yesterday,' while 昨 can refer to the past in a broader context.
