một thời
[mot̚˧˨ʔ tʰəːj˨˩]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
(adverb) formerly, in the past
Adverb
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
Hôm nay ngồi bên bếp lửa bập bùng, họ kể về cây thuốc "giấu" ở núi Ngọc Linh đã một thời dùng thay cơm cứu đói dân làng vì không đủ gạo để ăn.Today, sitting besides the flickering cooking fire, they tell about the medicinal plant hidden on Ngọc Linh mountain which was once used to replace rice to save the villagers from hunger due to a lack of rice for food.
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Common questions
What does “một thời” mean?
(adverb) formerly, in the past
Is “một thời” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.