<!DOCTYPE html> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <meta name="generator" content= "HTML Tidy for HTML5 for Linux version 5.2.0" /> <title></title> </head> <body> <p>Before and after can be expressed using 之前 (zhīqián) and 之后 (zhīhòu). They are in relatively the same vein as 以前/以后, except that these two are adverbs, while 之前/之后 are prepositions. Don't forget that these two are talking about before and after in terms of <strong>time</strong>.</p> <h2 id="structure">Structure</h2> <div class="jiegou"> <p>Event + 之前 / 之后</p> </div> <h2 id="examples">Examples</h2> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>下班<em>之前</em>，经理给我们开了一个会议。<span class="pinyin">Xiàbān <em>zhīqián</em>, jīnglǐ gěi wǒmen kāi le yī gè huìyì.</span><span class="trans">Before I got off work, the manager assembled a meeting with us.</span></li> <li>来 中国 <em>之前</em> ，我 的 汉语 水平 很 低。<span class="pinyin">Lái Zhōngguó <em>zhīqián</em>, wǒ de Hànyǔ shuǐpíng hěn dī.</span><span class="trans">Before I came to China, my Chinese was bad.</span></li> <li>吃 完 饭 <em>之后</em> ，他们 去 了 一家 电影院。<span class="pinyin">Chī wán fàn <em>zhīhòu</em>, tāmen qù le yī jiā diànyǐngyuàn.</span><span class="trans">After they finished eating, they went to a movie theater.</span></li> <li>去 北京 <em>之后</em> ，他 和 他的 女朋友 分手了。<span class="pinyin">Qù Běijīng <em>zhīhòu</em>, tā hé tā de nǚpéngyou fēnshǒu le.</span><span class="trans">After he went to Beijing, he broke up with his girlfriend.</span></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul> <li><a href="Sequencing_past_events_with_"houlai"" title= "wikilink">Sequencing past events with "houlai"</a></li> <li><a href="Before_a_specific_time" title="wikilink">Before a specific time</a></li> <li><a href=""Ever_since"_with_"zicong"" title= "wikilink">"Ever since" with "zicong"</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2> <h3 id="books">Books</h3> <ul> <li><a href= "Home_With_Kids2_(%E5%AE%B6%E6%9C%89%E5%84%BF%E5%A5%B32)" title= "wikilink">Home With Kids2 (家有儿女2)</a> (pp. 167)</li> <li><a href="Modern_Mandarin_Chinese_Grammar:_A_Practical_Guide" title="wikilink">Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide</a> <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href="Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_2" title= "wikilink">Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2</a> (pp. 93-4) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0887276881"> →buy</a></li> </ul> <p><a href="Category:B1_grammar_points" title= "wikilink">Category:B1 grammar points</a> <a href="Category:Time" class="uri" title="wikilink">Category:Time</a></p> </body> </html>