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How to use 以前 (yǐqián) and 从前 (cónɡqián) in Chinese?

May. 15, 2013

The correct answer is A.

Nǐ zhǔnbèi shénme shíhou jiéhūn?

Tina:你    准备     什么     时候    结婚?

When are you going to get married?

Sānshí suì yǐqián kěndìng jiéhūn.

Kate:三十     岁  以前     肯定      结婚。

I plan to get married before I’m 30 years old.

Explanation:

This test aims to bring attention to the differences between 以前 (yǐqián) and 从前 (cónɡqián). The differences are as follows:

1. 从前 (cónɡqián) always refers to a time far in the past, while 以前 (yǐqián) is closer to the present.

Examples:

Cóngqián, yǒu yíge shīrén jiào Lǐ Bái.

从前,       有   一个   诗人   叫  李 白。

Once, there was a poet named Li Bai.

Yǐqián, wǒ zhùzài zhōngguó.

以前,  我  住在     中国。

Previously, I lived in China.

2. 以前 (yǐqián) can be used after time words while 从前 (cónɡqián) cannot.

Examples:

Tiānliàng yǐqián, wǒ bìxū qǐchuáng.

天亮         以前,我  必须    起床。

Before dawn, I must get up.

Tā shísuì yǐqián zhù zài Běijīng.

他  十岁    以前   住   在   北京。

Before he was ten years old, he lived in Beijing.

In the earlier conversation between Tina and Kate, 三十岁 (sānshísuì) is considered to be a time phrase, so this makes 以前 (yǐqián) the correct choice.

3. 以前 (yǐqián) refers generally to a time before now, and it can be placed at the beginning or the middle of a sentence.

Examples:

Yǐqián, wǒ zài xiǎoxué jiāoshū.

以前,  我 在   小学       教书。

Previously, I taught at a primary school.

Wǒ yǐqián zài xiǎoxué jiāoshū.

我   以前   在   小学      教书。

I used to teach at primary school.

4.从前 (cónɡqián) is always used at the very beginning of a story. It is similar to the English phrase “a long time ago,” or “once upon a time.”

Example:

Cóngqián, sēnlín lǐ zhùzhe yíwèi lièrén.

从前,        森林 里  住着    一位   猎人。

A long time ago, there lived a hunter in the forest.

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