before; previously; earlier
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
before; previously; earlier; formerly
Unlike 以前 (yǐqián), 先前 cannot be used after a verb to indicate time. For example, one can say "吃饭以前要洗手" (Wash hands before eating), but "吃饭先前要洗手" is incorrect.
Xiān先
qián前
wǒ我
hé和
tā他
tóng同
guo过
xué学
。
I went to school with him previously.
Wǒ我
men们
méi煤
kuàng矿
de的
jī机
xiè械
huà化
chéng程
dù度
bǐ比
xiān先
qián前
gāo高
duō多
le了
。
The mechanization level of our coal mine is much higher than before.
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Xiān先
qián前
wǒ我
bù不
tóng同
yì意
，
dàn但
xiàn现
zài在
wǒ我
gǎi改
biàn变
zhǔ主
yi意
le了
。
I disagreed earlier, but now I've changed my mind.
Tā他
xiān先
qián前
zhù住
zài在
Shàng上
hǎi海
，
hòu后
lái来
bān搬
dào到
Běi北
jīng京
le了
。
He previously lived in Shanghai, and later moved to Beijing.