语法 · HSK 2–4
以前 (yǐqián) vs 之前 (zhīqián): "before" in Chinese
Both go AFTER the event or time they modify: 吃饭以前 / 吃饭之前 "before eating", not before it as in English. On its own at the start of a sentence, 以前 means "in the past / formerly" (我以前住在上海); 之前 refers back to a specific time just mentioned ("before that").
句型Patterns
Event / Time + 以前 / 之前，…"Before …": 来中国以前, 三点之前.Duration + 以前"… ago": 三年以前 "three years ago".Subject + 以前 + Verb"Used to / in the past": 他以前是老师.
例句Examples
- 睡觉以前别喝太多咖啡。shuì jiào yǐ qián bié hē tài duō kā fēi.Don't drink too much coffee before going to bed.
- 请在星期五之前把作业交给我。qǐng zài xīng qī wǔ zhī qián bǎ zuò yè jiāo gěi wǒ.Please hand in your homework to me before Friday.
- 我以前不喜欢吃辣的菜。wǒ yǐ qián bù xǐ huan chī là de cài.I didn't use to like spicy food.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗以前我来中国，我不会说中文。
✓我来中国以前，不会说中文。
"Before coming to China" puts 以前 at the end of the clause (来中国以前).
重点词语Words in this guide
- 以前 yǐ qián
Common questions
Are 以前 and 之前 interchangeable after a verb?
Yes: 出门以前 and 出门之前 both mean "before going out".