Before a specific time with “以前” (yǐqián)

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Level: A2 / HSK1 and HSK3

Similar to:

• Structure of times (basic) (A1)
• Expressing “before” in general with “yiqian” (A2)
• Expressing “when” with “de shihou” (A2)
• Structure of times (advanced) (A2)
• Expressing “before” and “after” with “zhiqian” and “zhihou” (B1)
• Expressing “when” with “shi” (B1)
• Expressing “once” with “cengjing” (B2)

Used for: Referring to the past, Sequencing events in time, Expressing time and date

Keywords: 以前, 以, 前

As well as talking about the past in general, you can use 以前 (yǐqián) to talk about things that happened before a specific time.

Structure

Time / Verb + 以前 ，⋯⋯

The time can be a specific time, or an action (technically, “when the action was done”).

Examples

1. 吃饭 以前 ，你 洗 手 了 吗？
   
   Chīfàn yǐqián, nǐ xǐ shǒu le ma?
   
   Did you wash your hands before eating?
   
2. 睡觉 以前 ，不要 吃 东西。
   
   Shuìjiào yǐqián, bùyào chī dōngxi.
   
   Don’t eat anything before you go to sleep.
   
3. 两 年 以前 ， 你 认识 他 吗？
   
   Liǎng nián yǐqián, nǐ rènshi tā ma?
   
   Did you know him two years ago?
   
4. 星期五 以前 ，你 要 做 完 这些 工作。
   
   Xīngqīwǔ yǐqián, nǐ yào zuò wán zhèxiē gōngzuò.
   
   You need to finish this work before Friday.
   
5. 上 大学 以前，你 来 过 上海 吗？
   
   Shàng dàxué yǐqián, nǐ lái guo shànghǎi ma?
   
   Before you went to college, did you ever come to Shanghai?
   
6. 结婚 以前 ，你 应该 先 买 房子。
   
   Jiéhūn yǐqián, nǐ yīnggāi xiān mǎi fángzi.
   
   Before getting married, you should first buy a house.
   
7. 二十 年 以前，这里 是 一 个 公园。
   
   Èrshí nián yǐqián, zhèlǐ shì yī gè gōngyuán.
   
   Twenty years ago, this was a park.
   
8. 几 个 月 以前 ，他们 分手 了。
   
   Jǐ gè yuè yǐqián, tāmen fēnshǒu le.
   
   They broke up a few months ago.
   
9. 毕业 以前，我 要 找到 工作。
   
   Bìyè yǐqián, wǒ yào zhǎodào gōngzuò.
   
   I need to find a job before graduation.
   
10. 当 总统 以前，Obama 没有 白 头发。
    
    Dāng zǒngtǒng yǐqián, Obama méiyǒu bái tóufa.
    
    Before he became the president, Obama didn’t have white hair.