此前 cǐqián before this
before this; before then; previously
How to remember 此前: 此 this + 前 in front = before this.
Characters
How it is used
- 'Before this / prior to this / previously' - 此前从未发生过 (cǐqián cóng wèi fāshēng guò) it had never happened before then.
- 此 = this (formal/written 'this'); pairs with 此后 (cǐhòu, after this). Common in news reporting to anchor a timeline.
- More formal than 以前 (yǐqián); refers to the point already under discussion, not just 'in the past' generally.