HSK 1
TIME 前
TIME qián
before TIME
Structure
Time / Event + 前 (qián)
How it works
The word '前' (qián) is placed after a specific time or event to indicate 'before' that time. In HSK 1, it is commonly used with days of the week, specific hours, or years to set a deadline or timeframe.
Examples
五点前。
Wǔ diǎn qián.
Before five o'clock.
他在星期五前回家。
Tā zài xīngqīwǔ qián huí jiā.
He is going home before Friday.
三天前，我不认识他。
Sān tiān qián, wǒ bù rènshi tā.
Three days ago, I didn't know him.
Common mistakes
Placing '前' before the time (e.g., saying 'qián sān diǎn' instead of 'sān diǎn qián'). In Chinese, the time word always comes first.
Tip
Think of '前' as a postposition rather than a preposition. It always 'points back' to the time mentioned right before it.
More HSK 1 grammar
See TIME 前 in real Chinese
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