Word: 之前 (zhīqián) previously; beforehand

之前你在哪里？

Zhīqián nǐ zài nǎlǐ?

Where were you?

他为什么之前住在美国？

Tā wèishénme zhīqián zhù zài Měiguó?

Why did he live in the United States?

他之前坐在这里。

Tā zhīqián zuò zài zhèlǐ.

He was sitting there.

你觉得我之前在做什么？

Nǐ juéde wǒ zhīqián zài zuò shénme?

What do you think I've been doing?

公主之前在哪里？

Gōngzhǔ zhīqián zài nǎlǐ?

Where was the princess?

再做一次，和之前一样。

Zài zuò yícì, hé zhīqián yíyàng.

Do it again, the same as last time.

我之前在撒谎。

Wǒ zhīqián zài sāhuǎng.

I was lying earlier.

我们之前没有见过吧。

Wǒmen zhīqián méiyǒu jiànguo ba.

I don't think we've been introduced.

我想撤回我之前的陈述。

Wǒ xiǎng chèhuí wǒ zhīqián de chénshù.

I would like to retract my previous statement.

我才想起来我之前该买个面包。

Wǒ cái xiǎng qilai wǒ zhīqián gāi mǎi gè miànbāo.

I just remembered that I was supposed to buy a loaf of bread.