Difference between revisions of "Before a specific time with "yiqian""
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*<strong>上 大学</strong> <em>以前</em>,你 来 过 上海 吗?<span class="pinyin"><strong>Shàng dàxué </strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, nǐ lái guo shànghǎi ma?</span> <span class="trans"> Before you went to college, did you ever come to Shanghai?</span> | *<strong>上 大学</strong> <em>以前</em>,你 来 过 上海 吗?<span class="pinyin"><strong>Shàng dàxué </strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, nǐ lái guo shànghǎi ma?</span> <span class="trans"> Before you went to college, did you ever come to Shanghai?</span> | ||
*<strong>结婚</strong> <em>以前</em> ,你 应该 先 买 房子。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Jiéhūn</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, nǐ yīnggāi xiān mǎi fángzi.</span> <span class="trans">Before getting married, you should first buy a house.</span> | *<strong>结婚</strong> <em>以前</em> ,你 应该 先 买 房子。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Jiéhūn</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, nǐ yīnggāi xiān mǎi fángzi.</span> <span class="trans">Before getting married, you should first buy a house.</span> | ||
− | *<strong>二十 年</strong> <em>以前</em>,这里 是 一 | + | *<strong>二十 年</strong> <em>以前</em>,这里 是 一 个 公园。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Èrshí nián</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, zhèlǐ shì yī gè gōngyuán.</span> <span class="trans">Twenty years ago, this was a park.</span> |
*<strong>几个月</strong> <em>以前</em> ,他们 分手 了。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Jǐ gè yuè </strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, tāmen fēnshǒu le.</span> <span class="trans">They broke up a few months ago.</span> | *<strong>几个月</strong> <em>以前</em> ,他们 分手 了。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Jǐ gè yuè </strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, tāmen fēnshǒu le.</span> <span class="trans">They broke up a few months ago.</span> | ||
*<strong>毕业</strong> <em>以前</em>,我 要 找到 工作。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Bìyè</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, wǒ yào zhǎodào gōngzuò.</span> <span class="trans">I need to find a job before graduation.</span> | *<strong>毕业</strong> <em>以前</em>,我 要 找到 工作。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Bìyè</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, wǒ yào zhǎodào gōngzuò.</span> <span class="trans">I need to find a job before graduation.</span> |
Revision as of 10:20, 6 January 2017
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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 / Verb + 以前, Subj. + Verb + Obj.
The time can be a specific time, or an action (technically, "when the action was done").
Examples
- 吃饭 以前 ,你 洗手 了 吗?Did you wash your hands before eating?
- 睡觉 以前 ,不要 吃 东西。Don't eat anything before you go to sleep.
- 两 年 以前 , 你 认识 他 吗? Did you know him two years ago?
- 星期五 以前 ,你 要 做 完 这 些 工作。You need to finish this work before Friday.
- 上 大学 以前,你 来 过 上海 吗? Before you went to college, did you ever come to Shanghai?
- 结婚 以前 ,你 应该 先 买 房子。Before getting married, you should first buy a house.
- 二十 年 以前,这里 是 一 个 公园。Twenty years ago, this was a park.
- 几个月 以前 ,他们 分手 了。They broke up a few months ago.
- 毕业 以前,我 要 找到 工作。I need to find a job before graduation.
- 当 总统 以前,Obama 没有 白 头发。Before he became the president, Obama didn't have white hair.
Note that this use of 以前 (yǐqián) can also be shortened to 前 (qián).
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