NounsHSK 4
Expressing "before" and "after" with 之前 and 之后
Place 之前 or 之后 directly after an event (a verb phrase or time word) to express 'before' or 'after' that event. The event comes first, without any 的, and the whole phrase can start or end a sentence.
Structure
Event + 之前 / 之后 ，⋯⋯
The event can be a noun, a verb phrase, or a time expression; no 的 is used.
Examples
- 来中国之前，我的汉语很一般。Lái zhōng guó zhī qián, wǒ de hàn yǔ hěn yì bān.Before I came to China, my Chinese was really mediocre.
- 下班之后给我打个电话。Xià bān zhī hòu gěi wǒ dǎ gè diàn huà.Give me a call after you get off work.
- 吃完饭之后去看电影吧？Chī wán fàn zhī hòu qù kàn diàn yǐng ba?What about going to the movies after eating dinner?
- 出国之前，他和女朋友分手了。Chū guó zhī qián, tā hé nǚ péng you fēn shǒu 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 fàng xué zhī hòu dōu yào qù shàng gāng qín kè.She needs to go to piano lessons every day after school.