Before and After in Chinese

Grammar Point:
The terms 以前 yǐqián (before) and 以後后 yǐhòu (after) are Chinese expressions used to indicate time references. Here’s an explanation of their grammar and usage:

以前 yǐqián

• 以前 yǐqián means “before” or “in the past.”
• It is used to refer to a point in time or a period that occurred prior to the present moment or a specific reference point. And it is often followed by a time phrase or a specific event.

Time or Verb + 以前 (Before)

你nǐ明天míngtiān8 點diǎn以前yǐqián必須bìxū到dào公司gōngsī你nǐ明天míngtiān8 点diǎn以前yǐqián必须bìxū到dào公司gōngsī
You must arrive at the company before 8 o’clock tomorrow.

我wǒ知道zhīdào我wǒ在zài做夢zuòmèng， 但是dànshì我wǒ希望xīwàng50 歲suì以前yǐqián能néng退休tuìxiū我wǒ知道zhīdào我wǒ在zài做夢zuòmèng， 但是dànshì我wǒ希望xīwàng50 岁suì以前yǐqián能néng退休tuìxiū
I know I’m dreaming, but I hope to retire before the age of 50.

來lái台灣Táiwān以前yǐqián你nǐ學xué過guò中文zhōngwén嗎ma？ 来lái台湾Táiwān以前yǐqián你nǐ学xué过guò中文zhōngwén吗ma？
Did you learn Chinese before coming to Taiwan?

結婚jiéhūn以前yǐqián， 我wǒ做zuò我自己wǒzìjǐ结婚jiéhūn以前yǐqián， 我wǒ做zuò我自己wǒzìjǐ
Before getting married, I was being myself.

S + 以前 + V + O (In the past)

Subject can be placed either in front ot 以前 yǐqián or right after it.

我wǒ以前yǐqián在zài韓國hánguó住zhù過guò兩年liǎngnián我wǒ以前yǐqián在zài韩国hánguó住zhù过guò两年liǎngnián
I used to live in Korea for two years.

以前yǐqián這裡zhèlǐ的de房子fángzi很hěn便宜piányí， 但是dànshì現在xiànzài超chāo貴guì以前yǐqián这里zhèlǐ的de房子fángzi很hěn便宜piányi， 但是dànshì现在xiànzài超chāo贵guì
The houses here used to be cheap, but now they’re very expensive.

你nǐ以前yǐqián的de照片zhàopiàn也yě太tài帥shuài！ 你nǐ以前yǐqián的de照片zhàopiàn也yě太tài帅shuài！
Your old photos are soooo handsome!

他tā以前yǐqián沒méi這樣zhèyàng過guò他tā以前yǐqián没méi这样zhèyàng过guò
He has never been like this before.

以後后 yǐhòu

• 以後后 yǐhòu means “after” or “in the future.”
• It is used to refer to a point in time or a period that occurs after the present moment or a specific reference point. And it is often followed by a time phrase or a specific event.

Time or Verb + 以後后 (After)

我wǒ星期五xīngqíwǔ以後yǐhòu有空yǒukōng我wǒ星期五xīngqīwǔ以后yǐhòu有空yǒukōng
I will be available after Friday.

很多hěnduō人rén說shuō1981 年nián以後yǐhòu出生chūshēng的de孩子háizi是shì草莓族cǎoméizú很多hěnduō人rén说shuō1981 年nián以后yǐhòu出生chūshēng的de孩子háizi是shì草莓族cǎoméizú
Many people say that children born after 1981 are the “strawberry generation.”

FYI
草莓族 cǎoméi zú is a slang term in Chinese that is often used to describe the younger generation, specifically those born after 1981. It is derived from the idea that strawberries are delicate fruits that bruise easily, implying that this generation is seen as fragile or easily affected by setbacks and challenges.

下課xiàkè以後yǐhòu， 你nǐ要yào不要búyào跟gēn我wǒ一起yìqǐ吃飯chīfàn？ 下课xiàkè以后yǐhòu， 你nǐ要yào不要búyào跟gēn我wǒ一起yìqǐ吃饭chīfàn？
After class, would you like to have a meal with me?

離婚líhūn以後yǐhòu， 我wǒ找zhǎo回huí自己zìjǐ离婚líhūn以后yǐhòu， 我wǒ找zhǎo回huí自己zìjǐ
After the divorce, I found myself again.

S + 以後后 + V + O (In the future)

以後yǐhòu你nǐ想xiǎng做zuò什麼shénme？ 以后yǐhòu你nǐ想xiǎng做zuò什么shénme？
What do you want to do in the future?

我wǒ以後yǐhòu絕對juéduì不會búhuì再zài來lái這zhè家jiā黑店hēidiàn我wǒ以后yǐhòu绝对juéduì不会búhuì再zài来lái这zhè家jiā黑店hēidiàn
I will definitely not come to this shady store again in the future.

FYI
黑店 hēidiàn (black store) is a Chinese slang term that refers to an establishment, usually a restaurant or business, that operates in an unfair or deceptive manner. These businesses often take advantage of customers through practices such as overcharging, providing poor-quality products or services, or using misleading advertising. The term can be translated as ‘shady establishment’ or ‘blacklisted business.’

我wǒ以後yǐhòu一定yídìng會huì很hěn想xiǎng你nǐ我wǒ以后yǐhòu一定yídìng会huì很hěn想xiǎng你nǐ
I will definitely miss you a lot in the future.

以後yǐhòu的de事shì誰shéi也yě不知道bùzhīdào以后yǐhòu的de事shì谁shéi也yě不知道bùzhīdào
No one knows what will happen in the future.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ It will rain after noon today, remember to bring an umbrella.

今天jīntiān中午zhōngwǔ以後yǐhòu會huì下雨xiàyǔ， 你nǐ記得jìdé帶dài雨傘yǔsǎn今天jīntiān中午zhōngwǔ以后yǐhòu会huì下雨xiàyǔ， 你nǐ记得jìdé带dài雨伞yǔsǎn

✔️ I have learned a little bit of Spanish before.

以前yǐqián我wǒ學xué過guò一點yìdiǎn西班牙文xībānyáwén以前yǐqián我wǒ学xué过guò一点儿yìdiǎnr西班牙文xībānyáwén

✔️ Will you want to adopt a Taiwanese dog in the future?

你nǐ以後yǐhòu會huì想xiǎng養yǎng一隻yìzhī台灣狗Táiwāngǒu嗎ma ？你nǐ以后yǐhòu会huì想xiǎng养yǎng一只yìzhī台湾狗Táiwāngǒu吗ma？