The Secret Behind Telling Time with “前(qián) before”

Depending on where the character “前(qián) before” is placed in the sentence can change the meaning. For example, 时间段+前 (a period of time + before) vs 前+时间段 (before + a period of time). Try the quiz below to see if you can figure out the different meanings of  “前(qián) before” when it is used with a period of time!

qian before

Wáng Míng: Tā ____ jiéhūn le, xiànzài háizài dùmìyuè ne.
王       明:   她____ 结婚   了,现在  还在   度蜜月   呢。
Wang Ming: She got married a month ago, and is still on her honeymoon now.
Lǐ Fēi: Shì ma? Zài nǎr dùmìyuè a?
李 菲:是吗? 在 哪儿 度蜜月 啊?
Li Fei: Really? Where is she honeymooning at?
Wáng Míng: _____zài bālí,   xiànzài zài mǎěrdàifū.
王       明:  _____在 巴黎,现在    在  马尔代夫。
Wang Ming: The first half of the month she was in Paris, now she is in the Maldives.
A. 前一个月, 前半个月
B. 前一个月, 半个月前
C. 一个月前, 前半个月
D. 一个月前, 半个月前

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