Chinese Grammar Bank
HOW TO USE 以前 AND 以后
In daily life, you might want to talk about the past or the future.
This may be an unspecified time or a specified time.
In this case, you can use 以前 (yǐqián) which means “before”, “previously” or “ago”; and 以后 (yǐhòu) which means “after”, “later” or “in future”.
以前 WITH UNSPECIFIED TIME
With an unspecified time of the past, 以前 (yǐqián) is placed before or after the subject to mean “before” or “previously” or “in the past”.
STRUCTURE #1
以前 + Subject + Verb + Object
STRUCTURE #2
Subject + 以前 + Verb + Object
以前我很喜欢游泳。
I used to like swimming very much.我以前不喜欢吃水果。
I didn’t like eating fruits before.View More Phrases
| chinese | pinyin | english |
|---|---|---|
| 以前你们住在那儿吗？ | yǐqián nǐmen zhù zài nà’er ma? | Did you live there before? |
| 她以前很喜欢你。 | tā yǐqián hěn xǐhuān nǐ. | She used to like you a lot before. |
| 他以前没有那么多钱, 但是会买喜欢的东西。 | tā yǐqián méiyǒu nàme duō qián, dànshì huì mǎi xǐhuān de dōngxī | He didn’t have a lot of money in the past but he could buy the things he liked. |
以前 WITH SPECIFIED TIME
With specific points of time in the past, 以前 (yǐqián) comes after the action or event being talked about.
It simply shows that before an action or event, something occurs. It works the same way with a specific amount of time.
STRUCTURE #1
Action/Event + 以前, something occurs
STRUCTURE #2
Specific time + 以前, something occurs
四天以前，我毕业了。
I graduated four days ago.五分钟以前，他走了。
He left five minutes ago.View More Phrases
| Chinese | pinyin | english |
|---|---|---|
| 吃饭以前，你应该洗手。 | chīfàn yǐqián, nǐ yīnggāi xǐshǒu | You should wash your hands before eating. |
| 我一个月以前回来了。 | wǒ yīgè yuè yǐqián huí lái le. | I came back a month ago. |
| 你明天九点以前该做完你的作业。 | nǐ míngtiān jiǔ diǎn yǐqián gāi zuò wán nǐ de zuòyè. | You should finish your homework before nine o’clock tomorrow. |
以后 WITH UNSPECIFIED TIME
以后 (yǐhòu) functions the same way 以前 (yǐqián) does with unspecified time.
以后 (yǐhòu) is placed before or after the subject to mean “after” or “later” or “in future”.
In these sentences, the word “later” doesn’t necessarily refer to the immediate future since the time is abstract, so it can refer to two hours from now, tomorrow or even three weeks from the time of making the statement.
STRUCTURE #1
以后 + Subject + Verb + Object
STRUCTURE #2
Subject + 以后 + Verb + Object
我以后想回家看父母。
I want to go see my parents later.以后你不要来这儿。
In the future, don’t come here.View More Phrases
| chinese | pinyin | english |
|---|---|---|
| 你以后想做什么工作。 | nǐ yǐhòu xiǎng zuò shénme gōngzuò. | What job do you want to do in future? |
| 以后我想要结婚。 | yǐhòu wǒ xiǎngyào jiéhūn. | I want to get married in future. |
| 以后不给我打电话就不要来这儿。 | yǐhòu bù gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà jiù búyào lái zhè’er. | In future, don’t come here without calling me. |
以后 WITH SPECIFIED TIME
When talking about specific points of time in the future, 以后 (yǐhòu) comes after the action or event being talked about.
It indicates that after an action or event, something will occurred. It works the same way with a specific amount of time.
STRUCTURE #1
Action/Event + 以后 + Verb + Object
STRUCTURE #2
Specific time + 以后, something occurs
吃饭以后，你应该洗手。
You should wash your hands after eating.怀孕以后，她常常在家休息。
After she got pregnant, she often rests at home.View More Phrases
| chinese | pinyin | english |
|---|---|---|
| 我梦到过你以后，你到这里。 | wǒ mèng dàoguò nǐ yǐhòu, nǐ dào zhèlǐ. | After I dreamt about you, you came here. |
| 她结婚以后，她不要工作。 | tā jiéhūn yǐhòu, tā búyào gōngzuò。 | She doesn’t want to work after she gets married. |
| 五分钟以后，他会走了。 | Wǔ fēnzhōng yǐhòu, tā huì zǒu. | He will leave after five minutes. |
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FAQs
How do you say “long time ago” in Chinese?
Long time ago in Chinese is 很久很久以前 (hěnjiǔ hěnjiǔ yǐqián)
很久 (hěnjiǔ) : Long time
以前 (yǐqián) : Ago
You can dupliacte 很久 (hěnjiǔ) for emphasis.
What are some sentences with 以前?
– 她以前很喜欢你。tā yǐqián hěn xǐhuān nǐ. She used to like you a lot before.
– 我一个月以前回来了。wǒ yīgè yuè yǐqián huí lái le. I came back a month ago.
– 吃饭以前，你应该洗手。chīfàn yǐqián, nǐ yīnggāi xǐshǒu You should wash your hands before eating.
Some examples of 以后 in a sentence?
– 吃饭以后，你应该洗手。chīfàn yǐhòu, nǐ yīnggāi xǐshǒu. You should wash your hands after eating.
– 你以后想做什么工作。nǐ yǐhòu xiǎng zuò shénme gōngzuò. What job do you want to do in future?
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