<p>以 here means </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>用在方位词前，表明时间、方位、方向或数量的界限：以前。以内。（from <a href="http://xh.5156edu.com/html3/2706.html" rel="nofollow">在线新华字典</a>）</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In a way it is similar to <em>-wards</em> suffix, as in <em>backwards</em>, in English.</p>

<p>往 means <em>past</em>.</p>

<p>以往 literally means <em>before this point of time, 'past-wards'</em>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-12T02:06:50.857Z
Thanks, I phrased the question badly, I really wanted to know what ideas 以往 summons to the Chinese mind.  'past-wards' is great!
Pedroski
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-12T00:41:38.117Z
2015-08-12T00:41:38.117Z
NS.X.
<p>I just want to add a Chinese idiom. </p>

<h1>长此以往</h1>

<p>长 means 'for a long time', 此 means 'like this' <br/>
Here, 以往 doesn't mean past, it means in the future <br/>
So 长此以往 means "If something is like this for a long time in the future" (something bad will happen) <br/>
e.g.<br/>
他不喜欢运动，长此以往，他会变得不健康。<br/>
He doesn't like exercise, he would be unhealthy if he keeps doing this.</p>

<p><br/>
Good luck learning Chinese!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-12T22:26:51.220Z
Great answer, thanks! I'm gonna need that luck! It is not easy for me to learn Chinese! 谢谢！
Pedroski
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-12T16:30:08.317Z
2015-08-12T16:30:08.317Z
Yan
<p>以往 have similar meaning as 以前, which both means "in the past"</p>

<p>舊時 also means "in the past" (but the time is older)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-13T06:06:59.023Z
2015-08-13T06:06:59.023Z
Delay No More
<p>I have this question:</p>

<p>中国经济以往都是什么样的发展模式?</p>

<p>I would like to translate it: China's economy used to use what kind of expansion method?</p>

<p>以 can be 'use' and '往‘ can be 'to' in English, so that ‘used to' and '以往’ seem to be one and the same expression. </p>

<p>Or is the Chinese sense of '以往‘ more just 'use(d) in the past', '往‘ having the meaning 'past', not 'to' and 'used to' just fits conveniently?</p>

<meaning>
Are used to and 以往 really the same?
# Are used to and 以往 really the same?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-08-11)

I have this question:

中国经济以往都是什么样的发展模式?

I would like to translate it: China's economy used to use what kind of expansion method?

以 can be 'use' and '往‘ can be 'to' in English, so that ‘used to' and '以往’ seem to be one and the same expression.

Or is the Chinese sense of '以往‘ username_3 just 'use(d) in the past', '往‘ having the meaning 'past', not 'to' and 'used to' just fits conveniently?

**Tags:** meaning


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-08-12. Score: 4

以 here means

> 用在方位词前，表明时间、方位、方向或数量的界限：以前。以内。（from [在线新华字典](http://xh.5156edu.com/html3/2706.html)）

In a way it is similar to *-wards* suffix, as in *backwards*, in English.

往 means *past*.

以往 literally means *before this point of time, 'past-wards'*.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks, I phrased the question badly, I really wanted to know what ideas 以往 summons to the Chinese mind.  'past-wards' is great!  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2015-08-12. Score: 1

I just want to add a Chinese idiom.

# 长此以往

长 means 'for a long time', 此 means 'like this'   
Here, 以往 doesn't mean past, it means in the future   
So 长此以往 means "If something is like this for a long time in the future" (something bad will happen)   
e.g.  
他不喜欢运动，长此以往，他会变得不健康。  
He doesn't like exercise, he would be unhealthy if he keeps doing this.

Good luck learning Chinese!

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Great answer, thanks! I'm gonna need that luck! It is not easy for me to learn Chinese! 谢谢！  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2015-08-13. Score: 0

以往 have similar meaning as 以前, which both means "in the past"

舊時 also means "in the past" (but the time is older)


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