多么
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How, what
以前 (yǐqián) — how to say "before" in Chinese
以前
Before, previously
Character composition
以
by means of
前
front, before
Radicals / Keys
人
Man
#9 · rén · 2 strokes
刀
Knife
#18 · dāo · 2 strokes
Examples
和以前相比，这里的变化很大。
Compared to before, the changes here are big.
我以前住在北京。
I used to live in Beijing.
Mnemonic
[yi-] Yeti 🦣 once, before 以前, guarded the entrance of a cave with a sign that read "by means of 以" and "before 前 entrance forbidden". Each time a traveler approached, Yeti placed them in front of 以前 the cave, reminding everyone that it was once safe there.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "before" in Chinese?
"before" in Chinese is 以前 (yǐqián).
What does 以前 mean in English?
以前 (yǐqián) means "Before, previously".
How is 以前 pronounced?
It is pronounced yǐqián (written as yiqian). The page has audio recorded by a native speaker.
How do you write "before" in Chinese characters?
It is written 以前.
What HSK level is 以前?
以前 belongs to the HSK 3 vocabulary list.
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