之前 zhīqián before
before; prior to; ago; previously; beforehand
How to remember 之前: 之 of + 前 in front = before.
Characters
How it is used
- 之前 (zhīqián) attaches after a time word, verb phrase, or event to mean 'before that/prior to': 三点之前 (sān diǎn zhīqián) - before 3 o'clock; 睡觉之前 (shuìjiào zhīqián) - before going to sleep.
- Used alone at the start of a sentence it means 'previously, earlier': 之前我不知道这件事 (zhīqián wǒ bù zhīdào zhè jiàn shì) - I didn't know about this before.
- Compare 以前 (yǐqián): 以前 can stand alone more freely as 'in the past' in general, while 之前 more strongly attaches to a specific reference point - both are common and largely interchangeable after a time phrase.
- A frequent learner slip is placing 之前 before the reference clause instead of after it - it always comes after the thing it's 'before'.
Example sentences
- 之前你在哪里？ Zhīqián nǐ zài nǎlǐ?Where were you?
- 六点之前要回家。 Liùdiǎn zhīqián yào huíjiā.Come home before six.
- 他之前坐在这里。 Tā zhīqián zuòzài zhèlǐ.He was sitting there.