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jīn 今 fēi 非 xī 昔 bǐ 比

今非昔比 jīn fēi xī bǐ

the present cannot be compared with the past; things have changed enormously

Literally: today not past compare

Intermediate ⏳ Time & change
🃏 Practise intermediate chengyu

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Origin

Descriptive; no single source story. Found in Yuan-dynasty drama and later fiction.

How to use it

Predicate; neutral, usually of improvement. Often 生活今非昔比.

Example sentences

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  1. 村里通了公路和网络，生活真是今非昔比。
    Cūn lǐ tōng le gōnglù hé wǎngluò, shēnghuó zhēnshi jīn fēi xī bǐ.
    The village now has a road and the internet; life can't be compared with the past.
    village inside connect (particle) road and network, life truly today not past compare
  2. 他现在是大公司的经理，今非昔比了。
    Tā xiànzài shì dà gōngsī de jīnglǐ, jīn fēi xī bǐ le.
    He's a manager at a big company now; he's not the person he was.
    he now is big company (particle) manager, today not past compare (particle)

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