Difference between revisions of "Before a specific time with "yiqian""
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* <strong>十 点</strong> <em>以前</em> ， 我 在 家 。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Shí diǎn</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, wǒ zài jiā.</span> <span class="trans">I will be at home before ten o'clock.</span>
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* <strong>早上 十点</strong> <em>以前</em> ，公司 没人。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Shí diǎn</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, wǒ zài jiā.</span> <span class="trans">I will be at home before ten o'clock.</span>
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* <strong>上 大学</strong> <em>以前</em> ， 我 不 会 说 中文 。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Shàng dàxué</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, wǒ bù huì shuō Zhōngwén.</span> <span class="trans">Before I attended college, I couldn't speak Chinese.</span>
 
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* <strong>三 点</strong> <em>以前</em> ， 我 在 咖啡店 。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Sān diǎn</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, wǒ zài kāfēidiàn.</span> <span class="trans">Before three o'clock, I'll be in the coffee shop.</span>
 
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* <strong>睡觉</strong> <em>以前</em> ， 你 不 能 吃 糖 。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Shuìjiào</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, nǐ bù néng chī táng.</span> <span class="trans">Before going to sleep, you can't eat sugar.</span>
 
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* <strong>星期 五</strong> <em>以前</em> ， 要 做 完 你 的 工作 。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Xīngqī wǔ</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, yào zuò wán nǐ de gōngzuò.</span> <span class="trans">Before Friday, you need to finish your work.</span>
 
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* <strong>开会</strong> <em>以前</em> ， 我们 要 有 一个 计划 。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Kāihuì</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, wǒmen yào yǒu yīgè jìhuà.</span> <span class="trans">Before the meeting, we need a plan.</span>
 
 
* <strong>三 年</strong> <em>以前</em> ， 我 来 到 了 上海 。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Sān nián</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, wǒ lái dào le Shànghǎi.</span> <span class="trans">Three years ago I came to Shanghai.</span>
 
* <strong>三 年</strong> <em>以前</em> ， 我 来 到 了 上海 。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Sān nián</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, wǒ lái dào le Shànghǎi.</span> <span class="trans">Three years ago I came to Shanghai.</span>
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* <strong>吃 饭</strong> <em>以前</em> ， 你 应该 洗 手 。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Chī fàn</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, nǐ yīnggāi xǐ shǒu.</span> <span class="trans">Before eating, you should wash your hands.</span>
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* <strong>来 中国</strong> <em>以前</em> ， 你 男朋友 会 说 中文 吗？ <span class="pinyin"><strong>Shàng dàxué</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, wǒ bù huì shuō Zhōngwén.</span> <span class="trans">Before I attended college, I couldn't speak Chinese.</span>
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* <strong>一 个 月</strong> <em>以前</em> ， 我 认识 了 我 的 老婆 。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Yī gè yuè</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, wǒ rènshi le wǒ de lǎopó.</span> <span class="trans">A month ago I met my wife.</span>
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* <strong>睡觉</strong> <em>以前</em> ，不要 吃 东西。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Shuìjiào</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, bù yào chī dōngxi.</span> <span class="trans">Before going to sleep, don't eat anything.</span>
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* <strong>生 孩子</strong> <em>以前</em> ， 你 应该 先 结婚 。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Shēng háizi</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, nǐ yīnggāi xiān jiéhūn.</span> <span class="trans">Before having kids, you should first get married.</span>
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* <strong>两年</strong> <em>以前</em> ， 你 认识 我 现在 的 老板 吗？ <span class="pinyin"><strong>Liǎngnián </strong> <em>yǐqián</em>,  nǐ renshi wǒ xiàn zài de lǎobǎn ma?</span> <span class="trans">Two years ago did you know my current boss?</span>
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* <strong>吃 饭</strong> <em>以前</em> ，你 洗手 了 吗？<span class="pinyin"><strong>Chī fàn</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, nǐ xǐ shǒu le ma?</span> <span class="trans">Before eating, did you wash your hands?</span>
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* 我 <strong>几天</strong> <em>以前</em> 刚刚 见 过 她。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Wǒ jǐtiān  </strong><em>yǐqián</em>, gānggāng jiàn guo ta.</span> <span class="trans">I just saw her a few days ago.</span>
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* <strong>星期 五</strong> <em>以前</em> ， 你 要 做 完 这些 工作 。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Xīngqī wǔ</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, Nǐ yào zuò wán zhèxie gōngzuò.</span> <span class="trans">Before Friday, you need to finish these work.</span>
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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 come to Shanghai?</span>
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* <strong>结婚</strong> <em>以前</em> ， 你 应该 先 买 房子。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Shēng háizi</strong> <em>yǐqián</em>, nǐ yīnggāi xiān jiéhūn.</span> <span class="trans">Before having kids, you should first get married.</span>
 
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Revision as of 02:55, 28 September 2015

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.
  • 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?
  • 吃 饭 以前 ，你 洗手 了 吗？Chī fàn yǐqián, nǐ xǐ shǒu le ma? Before eating, did you wash your hands?
  • 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。 Shēng háizi yǐqián, nǐ yīnggāi xiān jiéhūn. Before having kids, you should first get married.

See also

Sources and further reading


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