Hi Mervin,
之前 (zhi qian) and 以前 (yi qian) both have the same meaning : before. But the usage is a bit different.
之前 is often seen in this structure 在。。。之前:
这药在睡觉之前吃。 or you can say: 这药在睡觉前吃。 (you can omit the the 之)
在警察赶到之前, …. (Before the police arrived, …)
五月之前,… (Before end of May, …)
你走之前喊他一声。 (Give him a shout before you go.)
十二点半之前赶回去还吃得上饭。 （If we get back before twelve thirty, we won’t be too late for lunch.）
以前 means before or previously in a general sense.
You can use 以前 instead of 之前 in some of the above sentences.
你走以前喊他一声。
十二点半以前赶回去还吃得上饭。
好久以前 （a long time ago）, but we seldom say 好久之前
我以前总去打篮球。 but we seldom say 我之前总去打篮球。 which has a different meaning.
Most of the time you can use 之前 (zhi qian) and 以前 (yi qian) interchangeable. But some of the terms or phrases we will use 之前 instead of 以前 and vice versa. It is difficult for me to list out all. I think the only way is to read more.
Hello Min Min,
Your doing a fantastic job with the site! Just wondering if yi qian= zhi qian and zhi hou= ran hou? Thanks!
Hi Mervin,
之前 (zhi qian) and 以前 (yi qian) both have the same meaning : before. But the usage is a bit different.
之前 is often seen in this structure 在。。。之前:
这药在睡觉之前吃。 or you can say: 这药在睡觉前吃。 (you can omit the the 之)
在警察赶到之前, …. (Before the police arrived, …)
五月之前,… (Before end of May, …)
你走之前喊他一声。 (Give him a shout before you go.)
十二点半之前赶回去还吃得上饭。 （If we get back before twelve thirty, we won’t be too late for lunch.）
以前 means before or previously in a general sense.
You can use 以前 instead of 之前 in some of the above sentences.
你走以前喊他一声。
十二点半以前赶回去还吃得上饭。
好久以前 （a long time ago）, but we seldom say 好久之前
我以前总去打篮球。 but we seldom say 我之前总去打篮球。 which has a different meaning.
Most of the time you can use 之前 (zhi qian) and 以前 (yi qian) interchangeable. But some of the terms or phrases we will use 之前 instead of 以前 and vice versa. It is difficult for me to list out all. I think the only way is to read more.
Your site is fantastic. Two thumbs up!
Hi Jonathandren,
Thanks.