Chinese word

以前

Pronunciation

Pinyinyǐ qián

Meaning

  • adverbin the past

Example

我以前住在北京。wǒ yǐ qián zhù zài běi jīng

I lived in Beijing in the past.

Illustration for 以前 (in the past)

More examples

他以前是医生。tā yǐ qián shì yī shēng

He used to be a doctor.

Core concept

The earlier side of a timeline, covering either one earlier moment or a continuing way of life before a reference time.

Common phrases

  • 以前常常yǐ qián cháng cháng

    often in the past

  • 以前是yǐ qián shì

    used to be

  • 以前有过yǐ qián yǒu guò

    once had

Similar words

过去guò qù: In the past, referring to a time or events that happened before the present.
曾经céng jīng: Once or at some time before now, showing that an action or event has happened as an experience.
之前zhī qián: Before a stated time or event, marking an earlier point in relation to it.

Definition in Chinese

表示某一时间点或时间段早于参照时间的情况，常用于对比过去与现在或描述过去的习惯。biǎo shì mǒu yì shí jiān diǎn huò shí jiān duàn zǎo yú cān zhào shí jiān de qíng kuàng cháng yòng yú duì bǐ guò qù yǔ xiàn zài huò miáo shù guò qù de xí guàn

Word origin

以前 (yǐqián, "in the past") joins 以 (yǐ, "using as a reference") with 前 (qián, "before") to place an earlier time before a reference point.

Usage tips

  • English often puts time after the subject, but Chinese can place this word first to show when the rest of the sentence happens.

Other meanings

  • the pastnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word