以前
before; previously; in the past
yǐqián
What does 以前 mean?
以前 (yǐqián) is the time word for 'before' or 'in the past' — it covers both 'previously / used to' and 'before a specific event.' Two patterns matter. First, standalone at the start of a sentence: 以前我住在北京 = 'I used to live in Beijing.' Second, as a POSTPOSITION after a time or event: [time/event] + 以前 = 'before [time/event].' So 吃饭以前 = 'before eating,' 三年以前 = 'three years ago,' 来中国以前 = 'before coming to China.'
Notice the position is opposite to English: English puts 'before' first, Chinese puts 以前 last. The opposite is 以后 (yǐhòu, 'after / from now on'). For very general 'in the old days,' 从前 (cóngqián) is also common in stories ('once upon a time'). 以前 covers both recent past and distant past — context tells you which.
Note: Standard time word, used freely in speech and writing. Works both as a standalone time word ('in the past') and as a postposition ('before X').
Character breakdown
to; with; according to
front; before; previous
Memory hook: 以 ('according to') + 前 ('front/before') = looking back in time, what came before now.
Example sentences
我以前住在上海。
Wǒ yǐqián zhù zài Shànghǎi.
I used to live in Shanghai.
neutral
睡觉以前我喜欢看书。
Shuìjiào yǐqián wǒ xǐhuan kàn shū.
I like to read before going to sleep.
neutral
三年以前，他去了北京。
Sān nián yǐqián, tā qù le Běijīng.
Three years ago, he went to Beijing.
neutral
你以前学过中文吗？
Nǐ yǐqián xué guo Zhōngwén ma?
Have you studied Chinese before?
spoken
以前我不喜欢喝茶，现在喜欢了。
Yǐqián wǒ bù xǐhuan hē chá, xiànzài xǐhuan le.
I didn't like tea before, but now I do.
neutral
Common phrases with 以前
Hear it in real Fluentide episodes
以前 appears in 1 podcast episode at natural native speed, with full Chinese script, pinyin, and line-by-line English translation.
Synonyms
从前 means 'in the old days / once upon a time' — has a storybook, distant-past feel. 从前有一个国王 = 'once there was a king.' 以前 is the everyday 'previously' for any past time, not just distant.
之前 also means 'before X' as a postposition and is slightly more written/formal. 吃饭之前 = 吃饭以前. 之前 is more common in writing and formal speech; 以前 is more conversational.
Don't confuse 以前 with
前面 is SPATIAL ('in front,' a location). 以前 is TEMPORAL ('before,' a time). 学校在前面 = 'the school is up ahead'; 三年以前 = 'three years ago.'
以后 means 'after / from now on' — the temporal opposite. Same grammar pattern (postposition or standalone), opposite direction in time.
之前 = 以前 in meaning, but more written. Don't worry about choosing — both are correct for 'before X.'