以前的人以為地球是平的。

It used to be thought that the earth was flat.

It was believed that the earth was flat.

Previously people believed the earth was flat.

Source: Tatoeba

Sentence Composition

1 以前 yǐqián
  1. before
  2. formerly
  3. previous
  4. ago
=2 的 de
  1. of; ~'s (possessive particle)
  2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun)
  3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis)
  4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 pígéde "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 pǎotángrde "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 xīnde "new one")
  5. also pr. dì or di in poetry and songs
=2 的 dī a taxi; a cab (abbr. for 的士 dīshì)
=2 的 dí really and truly
=2 的 dì (bound form) bull's-eye; target
3 人 rén person; people

classifiers: 個, 位
4 以為 yǐwéi to think; to believe (often with the implication that the belief is mistaken – unless referring to one's own current belief)
=5 地球 dìqiú the earth
=5 地球 Dìqiú
  1. (astronomy) the Earth
  2. the Earth
=6 是 shì
  1. to be (followed by substantives only)
  2. correct; right; true
  3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well
  4. (adverb for emphatic assertion)
=6 是 shì variant of 是 shì
=7 平 Píng surname Ping
=7 平 píng
  1. flat
  2. level
  3. equal
  4. to tie (make the same score)
  5. to draw (score)
  6. calm
  7. peaceful
  8. abbr. for 平聲 píngshēng
=7 平 pián alternative form of 辨
=7 平 bìng
  1. (obsolete) to control prices
  2. to control prices
=8 的 de
  1. of; ~'s (possessive particle)
  2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun)
  3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis)
  4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 pígéde "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 pǎotángrde "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 xīnde "new one")
  5. also pr. dì or di in poetry and songs
=8 的 dī a taxi; a cab (abbr. for 的士 dīshì)
=8 的 dí really and truly
=8 的 dì (bound form) bull's-eye; target