Expressing_before_and_after_with_zhiqian_and_zhihou_-ChineseGrammarWiki.html.mw.md 21 KB

[![](Expressing%20%22before%22%20and%20%22after%22%20with%20%22zhiqian%22%20and%20%22zhihou%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/logo-40x195.png "fig:Expressing%20%22before%22%20and%20%22after%22%20with%20%22zhiqian%22%20and%20%22zhihou%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/logo-40x195.png")](http://www.allsetlearning.com/)
[ ]( "wikilink")
- [Store](https://store.allsetlearning.com/) - [Resources*'*'](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/)
NEW
- [Chinese Study Resources](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/)
NEW
- [Chinese Grammar Wiki](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar) - [Chinese Pronunciation Wiki](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/pronunciation) - ['''' Log in](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/gramwiki/?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Expressing+%22before%22+and+%22after%22+with+%22zhiqian%22+and+%22zhihou%22)
Jump to: [navigation](#mw-head "wikilink"), [search](#p-search "wikilink")
[![](Expressing%20%22before%22%20and%20%22after%22%20with%20%22zhiqian%22%20and%20%22zhihou%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/CGW-print-250_60.jpg "fig:Expressing%20%22before%22%20and%20%22after%22%20with%20%22zhiqian%22%20and%20%22zhihou%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/CGW-print-250_60.jpg")](http://amzn.to/2iioVRP)
[![](Expressing%20%22before%22%20and%20%22after%22%20with%20%22zhiqian%22%20and%20%22zhihou%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/Wiki-title.png "fig:Expressing%20%22before%22%20and%20%22after%22%20with%20%22zhiqian%22%20and%20%22zhihou%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/Wiki-title.png")](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Main_Page)
- [Main Page](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Main_Page) - [Learner FAQ](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Learner_FAQ) - [Grammar Points](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Grammar_points_by_level) - [Chinese Keywords](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Keywords) - [Word Translations](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Translations) - [Textbook Index](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Chinese_textbook_grammar_index) - [Chinese Forums](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Forums) - [Acknowledgments](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Acknowledgments) - [Contact Us](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Contact) []( "wikilink")
Useful Pages - [Reading Tools](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Tools) - [Recent changes](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:RecentChanges) - [Random page](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:Random) - [Help](https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Help:Contents) - [Newsletter](http://resources.allsetlearning.com/) - []( "wikilink")
Tools -
[What links here](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:WhatLinksHere/Expressing_%22before%22_and_%22after%22_with_%22zhiqian%22_and_%22zhihou%22) -
[Related changes](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:RecentChangesLinked/Expressing_%22before%22_and_%22after%22_with_%22zhiqian%22_and_%22zhihou%22) -
[Special pages](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:SpecialPages) -
[Printable version](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/gramwiki/?title=Expressing_%22before%22_and_%22after%22_with_%22zhiqian%22_and_%22zhihou%22&printable=yes) - [Permanent link](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/gramwiki/?title=Expressing_%22before%22_and_%22after%22_with_%22zhiqian%22_and_%22zhihou%22&oldid=42462) -
[Page information](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/gramwiki/?title=Expressing_%22before%22_and_%22after%22_with_%22zhiqian%22_and_%22zhihou%22&action=info)
[![](Expressing%20%22before%22%20and%20%22after%22%20with%20%22zhiqian%22%20and%20%22zhihou%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/CGW-iBooks-150_150.jpg "fig:Expressing%20%22before%22%20and%20%22after%22%20with%20%22zhiqian%22%20and%20%22zhihou%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/CGW-iBooks-150_150.jpg")](http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1286538933)
[![](Expressing%20%22before%22%20and%20%22after%22%20with%20%22zhiqian%22%20and%20%22zhihou%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/cog.png "fig:Expressing%20%22before%22%20and%20%22after%22%20with%20%22zhiqian%22%20and%20%22zhihou%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/cog.png")](# "wikilink")
- === Sample Sentence Options === - Spaces -  Hide spaces between Chinese words - Pinyin -  Hide pinyin - Translations -  Hide translations
Expressing "before" and "after" with "zhiqian" and "zhihou" ===========================================================
[![](Expressing%20%22before%22%20and%20%22after%22%20with%20%22zhiqian%22%20and%20%22zhihou%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/link.png "fig:Expressing%20%22before%22%20and%20%22after%22%20with%20%22zhiqian%22%20and%20%22zhihou%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/link.png")](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/ASGTD3L3)
-
Level
[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)
-
Similar to
- [In the future in general with "yihou"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/In_the_future_in_general_with_%22yihou%22) (A2) - [Comparing "yihou" and "zhihou"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Comparing_%22yihou%22_and_%22zhihou%22) (B2) - [Expressing "ever since" with "zicong"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22ever_since%22_with_%22zicong%22) (B2)
-
Used for
[Sequencing events in time](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Sequencing_events_in_time), [Referring to the past](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Referring_to_the_past), [Referring to the future](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Referring_to_the_future)
-
Keywords
[之前](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E4%B9%8B%E5%89%8D), [之后](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E4%B9%8B%E5%90%8E), [前](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%89%8D), [后](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%90%8E)
-
Translations
[before](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Before), [after](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/After)
[![Chinese-grammar-wiki-qian.jpg](Expressing%20%22before%22%20and%20%22after%22%20with%20%22zhiqian%22%20and%20%22zhihou%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/300px-Chinese-grammar-wiki-qian.jpg "fig:Chinese-grammar-wiki-qian.jpg"){width="300" height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-qian.jpg)
The words "[before](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Before)" and "[after](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/After)" can be expressed using 之前 (zhīqián) and 之后 (zhīhòu). They are very similar to 以前 (yǐqián) and 以后 (yǐhòu). Don't forget that these two are talking about before and after in terms of **time**.
Contents --------  [hide]([# "wikilink")\] 
- [1 Used at the End of a Phrase](#Used_at_the_End_of_a_Phrase "wikilink") - [1.1 Structure](#Structure "wikilink") - [1.2 Examples](#Examples "wikilink") - [2 Used as a Time Word](#Used_as_a_Time_Word "wikilink") - [2.1 Structure](#Structure_2 "wikilink") - [2.2 Examples](#Examples_2 "wikilink") - [3 Slight Differences between 之前/之后 and 以前/以后](#Slight_Differences_between_.E4.B9.8B.E5.89.8D.2F.E4.B9.8B.E5.90.8E_and_.E4.BB.A5.E5.89.8D.2F.E4.BB.A5.E5.90.8E "wikilink") - [4 See also](#See_also "wikilink") - [5 Sources and further reading](#Sources_and_further_reading "wikilink") - [5.1 Books](#Books "wikilink")
Used at the End of a Phrase --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Structure
Event + 之前 / 之后 ,⋯⋯
### Examples
- 来 中国 *之前* ,我 的 汉语 很 一般 。Lái Zhōngguó *zhīqián*, wǒ de Hànyǔ hěn yībān.Before I came to China, my Chinese was really mediocre. - 下班 *之后* 给 我 打 个 电话 。Xiàbān *zhīhòu* gěi wǒ dǎ gè diànhuà.Give me a call after you get off work. - 吃 完 饭 *之后* 去 看 电影 吧 ?Chī wán fàn *zhīhòu* qù kàn diànyǐng ba?What about going to the movies after eating dinner? - 出国 *之前* ,他 和 女朋友 分手了 。Chūguó *zhīqián*, tā hé nǚpéngyou fēnshǒu le.Before he went abroad, he broke up with his girlfriend. - 她 每天 放学 *之后* 都 要 去 上 钢琴 课 。Tā měi tiān fàngxué *zhīhòu* dōu yào qù shàng gāngqín kè.She needs to go to piano class every day after school.
Used as a Time Word ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Structure
⋯⋯ ,之前 / 之后 ⋯⋯
### Examples
- 他 在 英国 读 完 了 大学 ,*之后* 回 上海 了 。Tā zài Yīngguó dú wán le dàxué, *zhīhòu* huí Shànghǎi le.He finished university in England. Afterwards, he returned to Shanghai. - 她 当 汉语 老师 四 年 多 了 ,*之前* 是 教 英语 的 。Tā dāng Hànyǔ lǎoshī sì nián duō le, *zhīqián* shì jiāo Yīngyǔ de.She's been a Chinese teacher for more than four years. She used to be an English teacher. - 老板 刚刚 回来 工作 ,*之前* 在 休假 。Lǎobǎn gānggāng huílái gōngzuò, *zhīqián* zài xiūjià.The boss just came back to work. He was on vacation before. - 我们 都 不 知道 ,他 *之前* 什么 也 没 说 。Wǒmen dōu bù zhīdào, tā *zhīqián* shénme yě méi shuō.None of us knew. He didn't say anything before. - 我 现在 去 吃饭 ,*之后* 去 见 客户 。Wǒ xiànzài qù chīfàn, *zhīhòu* qù jiàn kèhù.I'm going to eat now. After that I will go meet a client.
Slight Differences between 之前/之后 and 以前/以后 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One difference between the two pairs is that 之前/之后 feel more formal simply because they contain [之](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E4%B9%8B), which is a word common in classical Chinese. Both words are still used in everyday spoken Chinese, however. In addition, while all four words can mean "before and "after" (referring to time), 之前/之后 also sometimes mean "in front of" or "behind" (referring to space). We haven't included examples of that usage here, because it's less common and more formal. See also ------------------------------------------------------- - [Sequencing past events with "houlai"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Sequencing_past_events_with_%22houlai%22) - [Before a specific time](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Before_a_specific_time) - ["Ever since" with "zicong"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22Ever_since%22_with_%22zicong%22) Sources and further reading --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Books - [Home With Kids2 (家有儿女2)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Home_With_Kids2_(%E5%AE%B6%E6%9C%89%E5%84%BF%E5%A5%B32)) (pp. 167) [→buy](http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%AE%B6%E6%9C%89%E5%84%BF%E5%A5%B32-%E5%88%98%E7%AB%8B%E6%96%B0/dp/B0020MLDPM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347862251&sr=8-1) - [Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Modern_Mandarin_Chinese_Grammar:_A_Practical_Guide) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2xCpX2m) - [Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_2) (pp. 93-4) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2ftpILV)
\
[![](Expressing%20%22before%22%20and%20%22after%22%20with%20%22zhiqian%22%20and%20%22zhihou%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/CGW-print-500_120.jpg "fig:Expressing%20%22before%22%20and%20%22after%22%20with%20%22zhiqian%22%20and%20%22zhihou%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/CGW-print-500_120.jpg")](http://amzn.to/2iioVRP)
Retrieved from "