Before a specific time with "yiqian"

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， Subj. + Verb + Obj.

Verb + 以前， Subj. + Verb + Obj.

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

Examples

• 早上 十点 以前 ，公司 没人。 Shí diǎn yǐqián, wǒ zài jiā. I will be at home before ten o'clock.
• 三 年 以前 ， 我 来 到 了 上海 。 Sān nián yǐqián, wǒ lái dào le Shànghǎi. Three years ago I came to Shanghai.
• 吃 饭 以前 ，你 洗手 了 吗？Chī fàn yǐqián, nǐ xǐ shǒu le ma? Before eating, did you wash your hands?
• 来 中国 以前 ， 你 男朋友 会 说 中文 吗？ Shàng dàxué yǐqián, wǒ bù huì shuō Zhōngwén. Before I attended college, I couldn't speak Chinese.
• 睡觉 以前 ，不要 吃 东西。 Shuìjiào yǐqián, bù yào chī dōngxi. Before going to sleep, don't eat anything.
• 两年 以前 ， 你 认识 我 现在 的 老板 吗？ Liǎngnián yǐqián, nǐ renshi wǒ xiàn zài de lǎobǎn ma? Two years ago did you know my current boss?
• 我 几天 以前 刚刚 见 过 她。 Wǒ jǐtiān yǐqián gānggāng jiàn guo ta. I just saw her a few days ago.
• 星期 五 以前 ， 你 要 做 完 这些 工作 。 Xīngqī wǔ yǐqián, Nǐ yào zuò wán zhèxie gōngzuò. Before Friday, you need to finish these work.
• 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 come to Shanghai?
• 结婚 以前 ， 你 应该 先 买 房子。 yǐqián, nǐ yīnggāi xiān mǎi fángzi. Before getting married, you should first buy the house.

See also

• After a specific time
• "Before" in general
• Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"

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