How common it is
之前 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say zhī qián slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
之前表示某个时间或位置的前面。
zhī qián biǎo shì mǒu gè shí jiàn huò wèi zhì de qián miàn。
之前 means before a time or in front of a position.
Context note
之前常用于时间顺序和回忆。
zhī qián cháng yòng yú shí jiān shùn xù hé huí yì。
It is often used for time order and memory.
5 examples
我们之前见过。
wǒ men zhī qián jiàn guò。
We have met before.
吃饭之前洗手。
chī fàn zhī qián xǐ shǒu。
Wash your hands before eating.
请在之前准备好。
qǐng zài zhī qián zhǔn bèi hǎo。
Please prepare before then.
他之前住在这里。
tā zhī qián zhù zài zhè lǐ。
He used to live here.
开会之前先安静。
kāi huì zhī qián xiān ān jìng。
Be quiet before the meeting starts.
5 mini stories
她之前学过一点中文。
tā zhī qián xué guò yì diǎn zhòng wén。
She had studied a little Chinese before.
考试之前，他认真复习。
kǎo shì zhī qián， tā rèn zhēn fù xí。
Before the exam, he reviewed carefully.
我们之前讨论过这个话题。
wǒ men zhī qián tǎo lùn guò zhè ge huà tí。
We discussed this topic before.
放学之前，老师布置了作业。
fàng xué zhī qián， lǎo shī bù zhì le zuò yè。
Before school ended, the teacher assigned homework.
他之前说过同样的话。
tā zhī qián shuō guò tóng yàng de huà。
He said the same thing before.