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  3. Before a specific time with 以前 ("yi3qian2")

Before a specific time with 以前 ("yi3qian2")

以前 yǐqián

Noun
HSK 2

Structure

Time / Verb + 以前 ，⋯⋯

Translations

  • before

Definition

以前表示在某个时间点或事件之前。

Indicates before a certain point in time or event.

Usage

常用于时间词或事件后，表示在该时间或事件之前。也可单独使用表示过去。

Often used after a time word or event to indicate before that time or event. It can also be used alone to mean 'before' or 'ago'.

Examples

  • 1 我三点以前回家。 (I go home before three o'clock.)
  • 2 他以前是个老师。 (He used to be a teacher.)
  • 3 吃饭以前要洗手。 (Wash hands before eating.)
  • 4 以前我不喜欢运动。 (I didn't like sports before.)
  • 5 你以前来过这里吗？ (Have you been here before?)
  • 6 1990年以前，这里是个小村庄。 (Before 1990, this was a small village.)

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