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

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
As well as talking about the [["Before" in general|past in general]], you can use 以前 (yǐqián) to talk about things that happened ''before'' a specific time.
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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 ===
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== Structure ==
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Time / Verb + 以前, Subj. + Verb + Obj.
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Time / Verb + 以前 ,⋯⋯
  
 
</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 ===
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== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* <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">Did you wash your hands before eating? </span>
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* <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>, bùyào chī dōngxi. </span> <span class="trans">Don't eat anything before you go to sleep.</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>, bùyào chī dōngxi.</span><span class="trans">Don't eat anything before you go to sleep.</span>
* <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>
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* <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>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>
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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>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>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>
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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>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>
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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 a house.</span>
* <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>
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* <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>
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* <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>
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* <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 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>
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* <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>
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==See also==
 
==See also==
 +
 
*[[After a specific time]]
 
*[[After a specific time]]
*[["Before" in general]]
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*[[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 ==
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 260-1) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
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* [[Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 2 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)]] (pp. 11-12) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7301078617/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7301078617 →buy]
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{{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}}
 +
{{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}}
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{{Rel char|前}}
 
{{Rel char|前}}
 
{{Similar|After a specific time}}  
 
{{Similar|After a specific time}}  
{{Similar|"Before" in general}}  
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{{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}}     

Revision as of 09:57, 2 April 2019

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?Chīfàn yǐqián, nǐ xǐ shǒu le ma?Did you wash your hands before eating?
  • 睡觉 以前 ,不要 吃 东西。Shuìjiào yǐqián, bùyào chī dōngxi.Don't eat anything before you go to sleep.
  • 两 年 以前 , 你 认识 他 吗? Liǎng nián yǐqián, nǐ rènshi tā ma? Did you know him two years ago?
  • 星期五 以前 ,你 要 做 完 这些 工作。Xīngqīwǔ yǐqián, nǐ yào zuò wán zhèxiē gōngzuò.You need to finish this work before Friday.
  • 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 ever 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 a house.
  • 二十 年 以前,这里 是 一 个 公园。Èrshí nián yǐqián, zhèlǐ shì yī gè gōngyuán.Twenty years ago, this was a park.
  • 几 个 月 以前 ,他们 分手 了。Jǐ gè yuè yǐqián, tāmen fēnshǒu le.They broke up a few months ago.
  • 毕业 以前,我 要 找到 工作。Bìyè yǐqián, wǒ yào zhǎodào gōngzuò.I need to find a job before graduation.
  • 当 总统 以前,Obama 没有 白 头发。Dāng zǒngtǒng yǐqián, Obama méiyǒu bái tóufa.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