Introduction
以前 (yǐqián) is the mirror image of 以后 (yǐhòu): it means "before", and it attaches to the end of the block it refers to. 睡觉以前 (shuìjiào yǐqián) — before going to bed. On its own at the start of a sentence it means "in the past".
Overview
Structure: [Time or Verb phrase] + 以前 (yǐqián), + [Main clause]
| Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Time + 以前 | 八点以前 (bā diǎn yǐqián) | before eight o'clock |
| V + 以前 | 睡觉以前 (shuìjiào yǐqián) | before going to bed |
| V + O + 以前 | 吃饭以前 (chī fàn yǐqián) | before eating |
| 以前（on its own） | 以前我不会说中文。(Yǐqián wǒ bú huì shuō Zhōngwén.) | I couldn't speak Chinese before. |
| Amount + 以前 | 三年以前 (sān nián yǐqián) | three years ago |
以前 (yǐqián) vs 以后 (yǐhòu) — same slot, opposite direction:
- 吃饭以前 (chī fàn yǐqián) — before eating ／ 吃饭以后 (chī fàn yǐhòu) — after eating.
- Both go after the phrase they modify, and the whole block sits at the front of the sentence.
- Alone at the start: 以前 (yǐqián) = in the past ／ 以后 (yǐhòu) = in future.
- ❌ 以前吃饭我洗手。— wrong order. ✓ 吃饭以前我洗手。(Chī fàn yǐqián wǒ xǐ shǒu.)
Examples
睡觉以前我常常看书。
Shuìjiào yǐqián wǒ chángcháng kàn shū.
I often read before going to bed.
吃饭以前要洗手。
Chī fàn yǐqián yào xǐ shǒu.
You should wash your hands before eating.
八点以前我要到公司。
Bā diǎn yǐqián wǒ yào dào gōngsī.
I have to get to the office before eight.
以前我不会说中文。
Yǐqián wǒ bú huì shuō Zhōngwén.
I couldn't speak Chinese before.
三年以前我来到这儿。
Sān nián yǐqián wǒ láidào zhèr.
I came here three years ago.
来中国以前，我学过一点儿中文。
Lái Zhōngguó yǐqián, wǒ xuéguò yìdiǎnr Zhōngwén.
Before coming to China I'd studied a little Chinese.
Usage Notes
- For "X ago", put the amount of time first: 两天以前 (liǎng tiān yǐqián) — two days ago, 很久以前 (hěn jiǔ yǐqián) — a long time ago.
- Used alone, 以前 contrasts the past with now and often pairs with 现在 (xiànzài): 以前我不喝咖啡，现在每天喝。(Yǐqián wǒ bù hē kāfēi, xiànzài měitiān hē.)
- 以前 (yǐqián) and 前面 (qiánmiàn) are different: 以前 is time, 前面 is physical space — in front.
- The clause before 以前 never takes 了 (le), because nothing is being marked as completed there.
- 之前 (zhīqián) is a more formal equivalent of 以前 and works the same way; you will meet it in written Chinese.