qián
(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).