Difference between revisions of "Before a specific time with "yiqian""

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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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* <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>
* <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>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>
* <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 xiàn zài de lǎobǎn ma?</span> <span class="trans">Two years ago did you know my current boss?</span>
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* <strong>两年</strong> <em>以前</em> , 你 认识 我老板 吗? <span class="pinyin"><strong>Liǎngnián </strong> <em>yǐqián</em>,  nǐ rènshi wǒ lǎobǎn ma? </span> <span class="trans">Two years ago did you know my boss? </span>
* <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>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>
* <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>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>
* <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 the house.</span>
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* <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 the house. </span>
  
 
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Revision as of 06:17, 12 November 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

  • 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 我老板 吗? Liǎngnián yǐqián, nǐ rènshi wǒ lǎobǎn ma? Two years ago did you know my 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。Jiéhūn yǐqián, nǐ yīnggāi xiān mǎi fángzi. Before getting married, you should first buy the house.

See also

Sources and further reading