Difference between revisions of "Before a specific time with "yiqian""
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| − | * <em>十 点</em> <strong>以前</strong> | + | * <em>十 点</em> <strong>以前</strong> ， 我 在 家 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Shí diǎn</em> <strong>yǐqián</strong>, wǒ zài jiā.</span> <span class="trans">I am at home before ten o'clock.</span> |
| − | * <em>上 大学</em> <strong>以前</strong> | + | * <em>上 大学</em> <strong>以前</strong> ， 我 不 会 说 中文 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Shàng dàxué</em> <strong>yǐqián</strong>, wǒ bù huì shuō Zhōngwén.</span> <span class="trans">Before I attended college, I couldn't speak Chinese.</span> |
| − | * <em>三 点</em> <strong>以前</strong> | + | * <em>三 点</em> <strong>以前</strong> ， 我 在 咖啡店 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Sān diǎn</em> <strong>yǐqián</strong>, wǒ zài kāfēidiàn.</span> <span class="trans">Before three o'clock, I'm in the coffee shop.</span> |
| − | * <em>睡觉</em> <strong>以前</strong> | + | * <em>睡觉</em> <strong>以前</strong> ， 你 不 能 吃 糖 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Shuìjiào</em> <strong>yǐqián</strong>, nǐ bù néng chī táng.</span> <span class="trans">Before going to sleep, you can't eat sugar.</span> |
| − | * <em>星期 五</em> <strong>以前</strong> | + | * <em>星期 五</em> <strong>以前</strong> ， 要 做 完 你 的 工作 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Xīngqī wǔ</em> <strong>yǐqián</strong>, yào zuò wán nǐ de gōngzuò.</span> <span class="trans">Before Friday, you need to finish your work.</span> |
| − | * <em>开会</em> <strong>以前 </strong> | + | * <em>开会</em> <strong>以前</strong> ， 我们 要 有 一个 计划 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Kāihuì</em> <strong>yǐqián</strong>, wǒmen yào yǒu yīgè jìhuà.</span> <span class="trans">Before the meeting ， we need a plan.</span> |
| − | * <em>三 年</em> <strong>以前</strong> | + | * <em>三 年</em> <strong>以前</strong> ， 我 来 到 了 上海 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Sān nián</em> <strong>yǐqián</strong>, wǒ lái dào le Shànghǎi.</span> <span class="trans">Three years ago I came to Shanghai.</span> |
| − | * <em>吃 饭</em> <strong>以前</strong> | + | * <em>吃 饭</em> <strong>以前</strong> ， 你 应该 洗 手 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Chī fàn</em> <strong>yǐqián</strong>, nǐ yīnggāi xǐ shǒu.</span> <span class="trans">Before eating, you should wash your hands.</span> |
| − | * <em>一 个 月</em> <strong>以前</strong> | + | * <em>一 个 月</em> <strong>以前</strong> ， 我 认识 了 我 的 老婆 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Yī gè yuè</em> <strong>yǐqián</strong>, wǒ rènshi le wǒ de lǎopó.</span> <span class="trans">A month ago I met my wife.</span> |
| − | * <em>生 孩子</em> <strong>以前</strong> | + | * <em>生 孩子</em> <strong>以前</strong> ， 你 应该 先 结婚 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Shēng háizi</em> <strong>yǐqián</strong>, nǐ yīnggāi xiān jiéhūn.</span> <span class="trans">Before having kids, you should first get married.</span> |
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Revision as of 08:09, 23 October 2014
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
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+ 以前， Subject + Verb + Object
Verb+ 以前， Subject + Verb + Object
The time can be a specific time, or an action (technically, "when the action was done").
Examples
- 十 点 以前 ， 我 在 家 。 I am at home before ten o'clock.
- 上 大学 以前 ， 我 不 会 说 中文 。 Before I attended college, I couldn't speak Chinese.
- 三 点 以前 ， 我 在 咖啡店 。 Before three o'clock, I'm in the coffee shop.
- 睡觉 以前 ， 你 不 能 吃 糖 。 Before going to sleep, you can't eat sugar.
- 星期 五 以前 ， 要 做 完 你 的 工作 。 Before Friday, you need to finish your work.
- 开会 以前 ， 我们 要 有 一个 计划 。 Before the meeting ， we need a plan.
- 三 年 以前 ， 我 来 到 了 上海 。 Three years ago I came to Shanghai.
- 吃 饭 以前 ， 你 应该 洗 手 。 Before eating, you should wash your hands.
- 一 个 月 以前 ， 我 认识 了 我 的 老婆 。 A month ago I met my wife.
- 生 孩子 以前 ， 你 应该 先 结婚 。 Before having kids, you should first get married.
See also
Sources and further reading
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 260-1) →buy
- Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 2 (博雅汉语初经起步篇) (pp. 11-12) →buy
