以前yǐ qiánbefore

1. 1.

   beforenoun

2. 2.

   formerlynoun

• 以not compositional here
• 前before

See it in 上课以前，我去买东西, 我以前不喜欢狗 and 他以前是老师.

1. HSK 1

   上课以前，我去买东西。

   Shàngkè yǐqián, wǒ qù mǎi dōngxi.

   Before class, I am going shopping.

2. HSK 1

   我以前不喜欢狗。

   Wǒ yǐqián bù xǐhuan gǒu.

   I didn't like dogs before.

3. HSK 1

   他以前是老师。

   Tā yǐqián shì lǎoshī.

   He was formerly a teacher.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   你喜欢狗吗？

   Nǐ xǐhuan gǒu ma?

   Do you like dogs?

2. 
   Speaker B:

   现在喜欢。我以前不喜欢狗。

   Xiànzài xǐhuan. Wǒ yǐqián bù xǐhuan gǒu.

   I do now. I didn't like dogs before.

3. 
   Speaker A:

   你什么时候去买东西？

   Nǐ shénme shíhou qù mǎi dōngxi?

   When are you going shopping?

4. 
   Speaker B:

   上课以前。

   Shàngkè yǐqián.

   Before class.

1. 1.Fill in the blank: 我___不喜欢狗。 (I didn't like dogs before.)

   A以前B现在C一起
2. 2.What does 他以前是老师。 mean?

   AHe was formerly a teacher.BHe is a teacher now.CHe wants to be a teacher.
3. 3.Fill in the blank: 上课___，我去买东西。 (Before class, I am going shopping.)

   A以前B以后C外面

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Related words

• 以后yǐ hòuafterHSK 3
• 面前miàn qiánin front ofHSK 3
• 以为yǐ wéito think; to believe (often with the implication that the belief is mistaken)HSK 3
• 之前zhī qiánbefore; prior toHSK 4
• 前面qián miànahead; in frontHSK 2
• 目前mù qiánat the present timeHSK 4

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