以前／以后
before … / after …
Structure
时间／事情 + 以前／以后 ，……
What it means
以前 means “before” and 以后 “after”. After a length of time they mean “ago” and “later”; alone at the start, “in the past” and “from now on”.
How it is built
Time or event + 以前／以后, then the main part: 吃饭以前，先洗手 (Wash your hands before you eat). With a length of time: 三年以前 (three years ago).
When to use it
Use them to put events in order. Alone at the start: 以前我不喝茶 (I didn’t drink tea before). In speech they are often shortened to 前 and 后: 春节前, 下课后.
Watch out
They come after the event, the opposite of English. ✗ 以前吃饭，先洗手。 ✓ 吃饭以前，先洗手。
Examples
吃饭以前，先洗手。
Wash your hands before you eat.
晚会以后，我们一起回家。
After the party, we’ll go home together.
三年以前，他来到了北京。
Three years ago, he came to Beijing.
Learn this in HSK 2 · Lesson 5: 过春节 (Spring Festival)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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