yǐ以qián前(Mandarin)(Cantonese)
yǐ以
qián前
(Mandarin)
(Cantonese)
HSK 3
Dictionary
before/formerly/previous/ago
Examples
我以前住在这里,后来搬走了。
Wǒ yǐqián zhù zài zhèlǐ, hòulái bān zǒu le.
→ I used to live here, but later I moved away.
Did You Know?
Word Order
Word Formation
以 means 'by/with' and 前 means 'front/before'.
Usage Tips
以前 always goes at the start of a sentence to indicate 'before' a time or event: 以前我住在这里 (I lived here before).