Difference between revisions of "Before a specific time with "yiqian""
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| − | As well as talking about the [[" | + | As well as talking about the [[Expressing "before" in general with "yiqian"|past in general]], you can use 以前 (yǐqián) to talk about things that happened ''before'' a specific time. |
| − | + | == Structure == | |
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | Time | + | Time / Verb + 以前 ，⋯⋯ |
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</div> | </div> | ||
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The time can be a specific time, or an action (technically, "''when'' the action was done"). | The time can be a specific time, or an action (technically, "''when'' the action was done"). | ||
| − | + | == Examples == | |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * <strong>吃饭</strong> <em>以前</em> ，你 | + | * <strong>吃饭</strong> <em>以前</em> ，你 洗 手 了 吗？<span class="pinyin"><strong>Chīfàn</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, nǐ xǐ shǒu le ma?</span><span class="trans">Did you wash your hands before eating? </span> |
| − | * <strong>睡觉</strong> <em>以前</em> ，不要 吃 东西。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Shuìjiào</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, | + | * <strong>睡觉</strong> <em>以前</em> ，不要 吃 东西。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Shuìjiào</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, bùyào chī dōngxi.</span><span class="trans">Don't eat anything before you go to sleep.</span> |
| − | * <strong> | + | * <strong>两 年</strong> <em>以前</em> ， 你 认识 他 吗？ <span class="pinyin"><strong>Liǎng nián </strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, nǐ rènshi tā ma? </span><span class="trans">Did you know him two years ago?</span> |
| − | * <strong> | + | * <strong>星期五</strong> <em>以前</em> ，你 要 做 完 这些 工作。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Xīngqīwǔ</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, nǐ yào zuò wán zhèxiē gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">You need to finish this work before Friday.</span> |
| − | * <strong> | + | * <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> | + | * <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> | + | * <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 | + | * <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>当 总统</strong> <em>以前</em>，Obama 没有 | + | * <strong>当 总统</strong> <em>以前</em>，Obama 没有 白 头发。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Dāng zǒngtǒng</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, Obama méiyǒu bái tóufa.</span><span class="trans">Before he became the president, Obama didn't have white hair.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Note that this use of 以前 (yǐqián) can also be shortened to 前 (qián). | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| + | |||
*[[After a specific time]] | *[[After a specific time]] | ||
| − | *[[" | + | *[[Expressing "before" in general with "yiqian"]] |
*[[Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"]] | *[[Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"]] | ||
== Sources and further reading == | == Sources and further reading == | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | {{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|85}} | |
| + | {{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|260-1}} | ||
| + | {{Source|Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 2 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)|11-12}} | ||
| + | |||
[[Category:A2 grammar points]] | [[Category:A2 grammar points]] | ||
| + | {{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}} | ||
| + | {{HSK|HSK3}} | ||
{{Used for|Expressing time and date}} | {{Used for|Expressing time and date}} | ||
{{Used for|Referring to the past}} | {{Used for|Referring to the past}} | ||
{{Used for|Sequencing events in time}} | {{Used for|Sequencing events in time}} | ||
| − | {{Basic Grammar|以前|A2|Time / Verb + 以前|十 点<em>以前</em>，我 在 家。|grammar point|ASGJ2OJC}} | + | {{Basic Grammar|以前|A2|Time / Verb + 以前|十 点 <em>以前</em>，我 在 家。|grammar point|ASGJ2OJC}} |
{{Rel char|以}} | {{Rel char|以}} | ||
{{Rel char|前}} | {{Rel char|前}} | ||
{{Similar|After a specific time}} | {{Similar|After a specific time}} | ||
| − | {{Similar|" | + | {{Similar|Expressing "before" in general with "yiqian"}} |
{{Similar|Structure of times}} | {{Similar|Structure of times}} | ||
{{Similar|After a specific time}} | {{Similar|After a specific time}} | ||
Latest revision as of 09:20, 20 April 2021
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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 ，⋯⋯
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
- After a specific time
- Expressing "before" in general with "yiqian"
- Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"
Sources and further reading
- HSK Standard Course 1 (pp. 85) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 260-1) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 2 (博雅汉语初经起步篇) (pp. 11-12) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
