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.
Mini dialogue
出门准备
A
出门之前，别忘了带水壶。
Chūmén zhīqián, bié wàng le dài shuǐhú.
Before going out, don't forget to bring your water bottle.
B
好的，我吃饭之前就准备好了。
Hǎo de, wǒ chīfàn zhīqián jiù zhǔnbèi hǎo le.
Okay, I got it ready before eating.
睡前故事
A
睡觉之前，你想听故事吗？
Shuìjiào zhīqián, nǐ xiǎng tīng gùshi ma?
Before sleeping, do you want to hear a story?
B
想！之前那个关于月亮的故事很好听。
Xiǎng! Zhīqián nàge guānyú yuèliang de gùshi hěn hǎotīng.
Yes! The story about the moon from before was very nice.
Related words and contrasts
opposite
以后
yǐ hòu
after; later
之前 means before, 以后 means after.
similar
从前
cóng qián
once upon a time; in the past
Both refer to a time before now.
related
先
xiān
first; earlier
先 is often used to say 'do something first'.