以前 yǐ qián

“before; formerly; previous”

locality wordHSK 3 · 2021 list level 2

新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level

以前 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.

Entry 930: 以前 yǐqián — Level 3; official annotation 3 (名). PDF page 103

Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.

用法How to use 以前

以前 means "before" or "in the past/formerly." It can stand alone before a verb to talk about the past, or follow an event/time to mean "before that." A common pattern is [event/time] + 以前 or 以前 + [clause].

例句Example sentences

我以前住在北京。wǒ yǐ qián zhù zài běi jīng.I used to live in Beijing.
吃饭以前要洗手。chī fàn yǐ qián yào xǐ shǒu.You should wash your hands before eating.
你来以前给我打个电话。nǐ lái yǐ qián gěi wǒ dǎ gè diàn huà.Give me a call before you come.

常见错误Common mistakes

✗以前三天

✓三天以前

When it means "ago," the length of time comes before 以前, not after it.
✗我住在北京以前。

✓我以前住在北京。

When 以前 means "formerly" and stands alone, it comes before the verb, not after the verb phrase.

易混词Easily confused

以前vs之前

之前 is used more for "before a point or event" and often follows a noun or verb; 以前 is neutral and can also mean "in the past/formerly."