before; in the past; former times
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesnoun
in the past; before; former times
A general noun of position indicating the time prior to a specific point (present or other). Can refer to a distant or recent past.
Jiě解
fàng放
yǐ以
qián前
，
zhè这
lǐ里
shì是
ge个
xiǎo小
yú渔
cūn村
。
Before liberation, this was a small fishing village.
Sān三
nián年
yǐ以
qián前
，
wǒ我
hái还
zài在
shàng上
dà大
xué学
。
Three years ago, I was still in university.
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Hěn很
jiǔ久
yǐ以
qián前
，
yǒu有
yī一
ge个
měi美
lì丽
de的
chuán传
shuō说
。
Long, long ago, there was a beautiful legend.
Yǐ以
qián前
，
tā他
zài在
zhè这
lǐ里
gōng工
zuò作
guò过
。
He worked here before.
Wǒ我
men们
yǐ以
qián前
shì是
lín邻
jū居
。
We used to be neighbors.