生前 shēngqián during one's life
(of a deceased) during one's life; while living
How to remember 生前: 生 life + 前 in front = during one's life.
Characters
How it is used
- During a (now deceased) person's lifetime - 他生前的愿望 (tā shēngqián de yuànwàng) his wish while he was alive.
- Used only of the dead, looking back at their living days; pairs with 死后 (sǐhòu, after death).
- Don't use 生前 for a living person's past; for that use 以前 or 从前.
Example sentences
- 我出生前，我父亲就死了。 Wǒ chūshēng qián, wǒ fùqīn jiù sǐ le.My dad died before I was born.