之前

zhīqián

phrase HSK 4 #250

Meanings

1 before
2 prior to
3 ago

Characters

Examples

出发之前，检查一下行李。

Chūfā zhīqián, jiǎnchá yīxià xíngli.

Before departure, check your luggage.

很久之前，这里是一片森林。

Hěn jiǔ zhīqián, zhèlǐ shì yī piàn sēnlín.

A long time ago, this was a forest.

我之前去过北京。

Wǒ zhīqián qù guò Běijīng.

I've been to Beijing before.

Tips

grammar

之前 can follow a time word (三天之前, three days ago), a verb phrase (出发之前, before departing), or be used alone meaning 'previously' (我之前说过).

Stroke Order

之 zhī

前 qián