{{Grammar  Box}}

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 '''time'''.

== Structure ==

<div class="jiegou">

Event + 之前 / 之后

</div>

== Examples ==

<div class="liju">

*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>
*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>
*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>
*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>

</div>

==See  also==

*[[Sequencing past events with "houlai"]]
*[[Before a specific time]]
*[["Ever since" with "zicong"]]

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Books ===

*[[Home With Kids2 (家有儿女2)]] (pp. 167)
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2]] (pp. 93-4) [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]


[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
[[Category:Time]]
{{Similar|"(Ever) Since" with "(zi)cong"}}
{{Similar|Before a specific time}}
{{Similar|Sequencing Past Events with "houlai"}}
{{Similar|Saying "ever since" with "yilai"}}
{{Similar|Comparing "yihou" and "zhihou"}}
{{Similar|In the future in general}}
{{Basic Grammar|之前|B1|之前 / 之后|毕业<em>之后</em>，我 找 不 到 工作。|grammar point|ASGTD3L3}}
{{Rel char|之后}}
{{Rel char|前}}
{{Rel char|后}}
{{Used for|Sequencing events in time}}
{{Used for|Referring to the past}}
{{Used for|Referring to the future}}
{{Translation|before}}
{{Translation|after}}
{{POS|Nouns}}