Chinese

zhīqián
Meaning: before; prior to; ago
Part of Speech: Particle

Listen to pronunciation

Handwriting

之
前

Example sentences

Please read this report before the meeting.
請在明天之前把報告交給我。
请在明天之前把报告交给我。
Please hand the report over to me before tomorrow.
出發之前,我們先在地圖上規劃好行車路線。
出发之前,我们先在地图上规划好行车路线。
Before starting, we first planned the driving route on the map.
該公司發表聲明,澄清了之前的誤會。
该公司发表声明,澄清了之前的误会。
The company issued a statement clarifying the previous misunderstanding.
小偷在警察趕到之前就逃走了。
小偷在警察赶到之前就逃走了。
The thief escaped before the police arrived.
登山之前,一定要準備好所有的裝備。
登山之前,一定要准备好所有的装备。
Before mountain climbing, you must prepare all the equipment.
在簽署合約之前,請務必仔細閱讀所有條款。
在签署合约之前,请务必仔细阅读所有条款。
Before signing the contract, please make sure to read all the clauses carefully.
在乾旱季節來臨之前,農民們開始屯糧。
在干旱季节来临之前,农民们开始屯粮。
Before the dry season arrived, the farmers began to hoard grain.
新的證據推翻了之前的結論。
新的证据推翻了之前的结论。
New evidence overturned the previous conclusion.
投資之前,我們必須仔細權衡利害得失。
投资之前,我们必须仔细权衡利害得失。
Before investing, we must carefully weigh the pros and cons.

Usage Notes

Indicates that something happens earlier than a specific time or event. Can also be used at the beginning of a sentence to refer to a previous time.

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