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

• 吃 饭 以前 ，你 洗手 了 吗？Chī fàn yǐqián, nǐ xǐ shǒu le ma? Before eating, did you wash your hands?
• 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?
• 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