「…以前/以后」 "…yǐqián/yǐhòu"

「…以前/以后」（"…yǐqián/yǐhòu"）means “time point/action + 以前 (before) or 以后 (after) locates an event in time.”. 以前 and 以后 come AFTER the time word or action, unlike English 'before/after'. Formation: 时间点/动作 + 以前 / 以后

time point/action + 以前 (before) or 以后 (after) locates an event in time.

HSK3

Formation

时间点/动作 + 以前 / 以后

Explanation

以前 and 以后 come AFTER the time word or action, unlike English 'before/after'. 三年以前 (three years ago), 下课以后 (after class), 来中国以前 (before coming to China). They often start the sentence to set the time, followed by a comma.

Examples

三年以前，我在北京。
sān nián yǐqián, wǒ zài běijīng.
Three years ago, I was in Beijing.
下课以后，我们去打球。
xià kè yǐhòu, wǒmen qù dǎ qiú.
After class, we go play ball.

Note

Place 以前/以后 after the action, not before. ❌ 以后下课 ✅ 下课以后.

FAQ

「…以前/以后」 — what does it mean and how is it used?

time point/action + 以前 (before) or 以后 (after) locates an event in time.. 以前 and 以后 come AFTER the time word or action, unlike English 'before/after'. 三年以前 (three years ago), 下课以后 (after class), 来中国以前 (before coming to China). They often start the sentence to set the time, followed by a comma.

「…以前/以后」 — how do you form it?

时间点/动作 + 以前 / 以后

「…以前/以后」 — any usage notes?

Place 以前/以后 after the action, not before. ❌ 以后下课 ✅ 下课以后.

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