Word: 前 (qián)

一个小时前我们去散了个步。

Yí gè xiǎoshí qián wǒmen qù sànle gè bù.

We went on a walk an hour ago.

一个小时前雪停了。

Yí gè xiǎoshí qián xuě tíngle.

It stopped snowing an hour ago.

三个月前她在上海。

Sān gè yuè qián tā zài Shànghǎi.

She was in Shanghai three months ago.

下大雨前，政府先疏导了河道。

Xià dàyǔ qián, zhèngfǔ xiān shūdǎole hédào.

Before the heavy rain, the government cleared the river channel.

下水游泳前要先热身吗？

Xiàshuǐ yóuyǒng qián yào xiān rèshēn ma?

Do you need to warm up before getting in the water to swim?

下班前别忘了打卡。

Xiàbān qián bié wàngle dǎkǎ.

Don't forget to clock out before you leave work.

下雨前要赶紧收割玉米。

Xiàyǔ qián yào gǎnjǐn shōugē yùmǐ.

We need to hurry and bring in the corn before it rains.

临睡前，别喝咖啡。

Lín shuì qián, bié hē kāfēi.

Don't drink coffee just before bed.

临走前，我去邻居家道别。

Línzǒu qián, wǒ qù línjū jiā dàobié.

Before leaving, I went to my neighbor's home to say farewell.

买房子前要权衡各种因素。

Mǎi fángzi qián yào quánhéng gèzhǒng yīnsù.

Before buying a house, you need to consider all kinds of factors.

买车前先了解一下行情。

Mǎi chē qián xiān liǎojiě yíxià hángqíng.

Check the going prices before you buy a car.

事要前思免后悔

shì yào qián sī miǎn hòuhuǐ

think beforehand to avoid regret afterwards

交卷前，请你再复查一遍。

Jiāojuàn qián, qǐng nǐ zài fùchá yíbiàn.

Please check it over once more before you hand in your paper.

人前一句话，神前一炉香

rén qián yíjù huà, shén qián yì lúxiāng

a word before people, an incense burner before the gods

他一小时前刚走。

Tā yì xiǎoshí qián gāng zǒu.

He just left an hour ago.

他一小时前走了。

Tā yì xiǎoshí qián zǒule.

He left an hour ago.

他三十岁前就成家立业了。

Tā sānshí suì qián jiù chéngjiālìyè le.

He had married and started his career before he turned thirty.

他们六个月前结婚了。

Tāmen liù gè yuè qián jiéhūnle.

They got married six months ago.

他们应该十点前到。

Tāmen yīnggāi shí diǎn qián dào.

They should arrive by ten o'clock.

他们直到明天前不会来。

Tāmen zhídào míngtiān qián búhuì lái.

They won't come until tomorrow.

他前几天拜访了她家。

Tā qián jǐtiān bàifǎngle tā jiā.

He visited her house the other day.

他十分钟前到这里。

Tā shí fēnzhōng qián dào zhèlǐ.

He came here ten minutes ago.

他十分钟前离开了。

Tā shí fēnzhōng qián líkāile.

He left ten minutes ago.

他是前几天和你见过面的那个人。

Tā shì qián jǐtiān hé nǐ jiànguo miàn de nàge rén.

He is the man you met the other day.

他死前累积了庞大的财富。

Tā sǐ qián lěijīle pángdà de cáifù.

He amassed a large fortune before he died.

他每天睡前都会反省自己。

Tā měitiān shuì qián dōu huì fǎnxǐng zìjǐ.

He reflects on himself every night before bed.

他第一次来到日本是在十年前。

Tā dìyīcì láidào Rìběn shì zài shínián qián.

It was ten years ago that he first came to Japan.

付款前，请核对收货地址。

Fùkuǎn qián, qǐng héduì shōuhuò dìzhǐ.

Please verify the delivery address before paying.

你们很久前就应该完成了。

Nǐmen hěn jiǔ qián jiù yīnggāi wánchéngle.

You should have completed it long ago.

你在签字前必须仔细看合同。

Nǐ zài qiānzì qián bìxū zǐxì kàn hétong.

You must look over the contract before you sign it.

你在说话前应该先思考。

Nǐ zài shuōhuà qián yīnggāi xiān sīkǎo.

You should think before you speak.

你应该六点前回家。

Nǐ yīnggāi liù diǎn qián huíjiā.

You should come home before six.

你必须在到期前完成这项工作。

Nǐ bìxū zài dàoqī qián wánchéng zhè xiàng gōngzuò.

You must get the job done before the deadline.

你必须在星期日前完成。

Nǐ bìxū zài xīngqīrì qián wánchéng.

It is imperative for you to finish by Sunday.

你必须在10点前回来。

Nǐ bìxū zài shí diǎn qián huílai.

You must be back by 10 o'clock.

你睡觉前别吃到东西。

Nǐ shuìjiào qián bié chī dào dōngxi.

Do not eat anything before you go to bed.

修路前要先评估环境影响。

Xiūlù qián yào xiān pínggū huánjìngyǐngxiǎng.

Before building a road, you have to assess its environmental impact first.

做决定前，要考虑到方方面面。

Zuò juédìng qián, yào kǎolǜ dào fāngfāng-miànmiàn.

Before making a decision, you have to consider all aspects.

做决定前，请你深思一下。

Zuò juédìng qián, qǐng nǐ shēnsī yíxià.

Please think it over carefully before you decide.

做饭前，先把米淘干净。

Zuòfàn qián, xiān bǎ mǐ táo gānjìng.

Before cooking, wash the rice clean first.

做饭前先把调味料准备好。

Zuòfàn qián xiān bǎ tiáowèiliào zhǔnbèi hǎo.

Get the seasonings ready before you start cooking.

做饭前要先准备好食材。

Zuòfàn qián yào xiān zhǔnbèi hǎo shícái.

Before cooking, you should get the ingredients ready first.

入职前要先签劳动合同。

Rù zhí qián yào xiān qiān láodònghétong.

You have to sign a labor contract before starting the job.

全家人去墓前悼念爷爷。

Quánjiā rén qù mù qián dàoniàn yéye.

The whole family went to the grave to mourn Grandpa.

关帝庙前耍大刀，自不量力

guāndìmiào qián shuǎ dàdāo, zìbúliànglì

waving a big sword in front of the Guandi temple: overrating one's own strength

写文章前，你列纲要了吗？

Xiě wénzhāng qián, nǐ liè gāngyào le ma?

Did you make an outline before writing the essay?

写文章前，先列一个提纲。

Xiě wénzhāng qián, xiān liè yí gè tígāng.

Before writing an essay, make an outline first.

写论文前，我要先查很多文献。

Xiě lùnwén qián, wǒ yào xiān chá hěn duō wénxiàn.

Before writing my thesis, I have to look up a lot of reference material.

几天前我在站看到了他。

Jǐtiān qián wǒ zài zhàn kàndàole tā.

I saw him at the station a few days ago.

出发前，司机先检查了燃油。

Chūfā qián, sījī xiān jiǎnchále rányóu.

Before setting off, the driver checked the fuel first.

出发前我做好了攻略。

Chūfā qián wǒ zuò hǎole gōnglüè.

I put together a travel guide before setting off.

出国前我换了一些外币。

Chūguó qián wǒ huàn le yìxiē wàibì.

I exchanged some foreign currency before going abroad.

别忘记尼你睡觉前关闭电视。

Bié wàngjì ní nǐ shuìjiào qián guānbì diànshì.

Don't forget to turn off the TV before you go to sleep.

前一阵我一直在加班。

Qián yízhèn wǒ yìzhí zài jiābān.

For a while recently I was working overtime all the time.

前不算，后要乱

qián búsuàn, hòu yào luàn

not calculating beforehand, there will be chaos afterward

前几天人生第一次去钓鱼了。

Qián jǐtiān rénshēng dìyīcì qù diàoyú le.

The other day I went fishing for the first time in my life.

前几天我看到了你哥哥。

Qián jǐtiān wǒ kàndàole nǐ gēge.

I saw your brother the other day.

前几天我见到了她。

Qián jǐtiān wǒ jiàndàole tā.

I saw her just the other day.

前官便是后官的眼

qián guān biànshì hòu guān de yǎn

the former official is the later official's eyes

前有车，后有辙

qián yǒu chē, hòu yǒuzhé

where a cart went before, ruts remain behind

前留三步好走，后留三步好行

qián liú sān bù hǎo zǒu, hòu liú sān bù hǎo xíng

leave three steps ahead to walk easily, leave three steps behind to travel easily

前车覆，后车戒

qián chē fù, hòu chē jiè

when the cart ahead overturns, the cart behind takes warning

十年前他来到了中国。

Shínián qián tā láidàole Zhōngguó.

He arrived in China ten years ago.

十年前这里盛行骑自行车。

Shínián qián zhèlǐ shèngxíng qí zìxíngchē.

Ten years ago, riding bicycles was prevalent here.

参加马拉松前要好好休息。

Cānjiā mǎlāsōng qián yào hǎohǎo xiūxi.

You should rest well before taking part in a marathon.

古庙前的旗杆，独一根

gǔ miào qián de qígān, dú yìgēn

the flagpole in front of an old temple: just the one

古时候，渔民出海前要先拜龙王。

Gǔshíhou, yúmín chūhǎi qián yào xiān bài Lóngwáng.

In ancient times, fishermen would worship the Dragon King before going to sea.

吃药前，请先看药的说明书。

Chīyào qián, qǐng xiān kàn yào de shuōmíngshū.

Before taking the medicine, please read the directions first.

吃饭前要先洗手。

Chīfàn qián yào xiān xǐshǒu.

You need to wash your hands before eating.

哪个人前不说人

nǎge rén qián bù shuō rén

who doesn't talk about others in front of people

商场准备在年底前招商。

Shāngchǎng zhǔnbèi zài niándǐ qián zhāoshāng.

The mall plans to seek investors before the end of the year.

商店在节日前纷纷打折。

Shāngdiàn zài jiérì qián fēnfēn dǎzhé.

Shops are all putting things on sale before the holiday.

四点前我都在忙。

Sì diǎn qián wǒ dōu zài máng.

I've got my hands full before 4 pm.

在睡觉前我写了五封信。

Zài shuìjiào qián wǒ xiěle wǔ fēng xìn.

I wrote five letters before I went to bed.

墓前放着一束白花。

Mù qián fàngzhe yíshù báihuā.

A bunch of white flowers lay in front of the grave.

大将难免阵前亡

dàjiàng nánmiǎn zhèn qián wáng

even a great general may die before the battle line

天黑前，他赶到了驿站。

Tiānhēi qián, tā gǎndàole yìzhàn.

He reached the post station before dark.

她一小时前离开了医院。

Tā yì xiǎoshí qián líkāile yīyuàn.

She left the hospital an hour ago.

她上飞机前，给我招了招手。

Tā shàng fēijī qián, gěi wǒ zhāole zhāoshǒu.

She waved at me before she got on board the plane.

她五点前不会回来。

Tā wǔ diǎn qián búhuì huílai.

She won't be back till five.

她几分钟前熨完了衣服。

Tā jǐ fēnzhōng qián yùn wánle yīfu.

She finished ironing the clothes a few minutes ago.

她坐在镜子前梳理长发。

Tā zuò zài jìngzi qián shūlǐ chángfà.

She sat in front of the mirror combing her long hair.

她安静地坐在钢琴前。

Tā ānjìng de zuò zài gāngqín qián.

She seated herself quietly before the piano.

她睡前在脸上敷面膜。

Tā shuì qián zài liǎnshàng fū miànmó.

She puts a face mask on before going to bed.

她站在橱窗前看了很久。

Tā zhàn zài chúchuāng qián kànle hěn jiǔ.

She stood in front of the display window looking for a long time.

她站在镜子前。

Tā zhàn zài jìngzi qián.

She stood before the mirror.

孔子是两千多年前的思想家。

Kǒngzǐ shì liǎng qiān duōnián qián de sīxiǎngjiā.

Confucius was a thinker who lived over two thousand years ago.

宁在人前全不会，不在人前会不全

nìng zài rén qián quán búhuì, bú zài rén qián huì bù quán

better to say you know nothing before others than to know things only partially

家长不应该在考试前给孩子施压。

Jiāzhǎng bù yīnggāi zài kǎoshì qián gěi háizi shīyā.

Parents shouldn't put pressure on their children before exams.

就餐前请先洗手！

Jiùcān qián qǐng xiān xǐshǒu!

Please wash your hands before eating!

屋前有一片开阔的草地。

Wū qián yǒu yípiàn kāikuò de cǎodì.

There is an open stretch of grass in front of the house.

年终前我想去旅行。

Niánzhōng qián wǒ xiǎng qù lǚxíng.

I want to go traveling before the end of the year.

庙里的菩萨前摆满了水果。

Miào lǐ de púsà qián bǎimǎnle shuǐguǒ.

Fruit was laid out in front of the bodhisattva in the temple.

开会前，经理做了动员。

Kāihuì qián, jīnglǐ zuòle dòngyuán.

Before the meeting, the manager gave a rallying talk.

开会前，经理先做了一次动员。

Kāihuì qián, jīnglǐ xiān zuòle yícì dòngyuán.

Before the meeting, the manager gave a rallying talk first.

开会前，请先看一下注意事项。

Kāihuì qián, qǐng xiān kàn yíxià zhùyì shìxiàng.

Please read the notes on matters to watch out for before the meeting.

开始工作前要先做好计划。

Kāishǐ gōngzuò qián yào xiān zuò hǎo jìhuà.

Plan your work before you start it.

开车前不能喝含酒精的饮料。

Kāichē qián bùnéng hē hán jiǔjīng de yǐnliào.

You can't drink beverages containing alcohol before driving.

念罢了经打和尚，用人朝前不用人朝后

niàn bàle jīng dǎ héshang, yòngrén cháo qián búyòng rén cháo hòu

after the scripture is chanted, beat the monk: when you need someone you face them, when you don't you turn your back

悔前容易悔后难

huǐ qián róngyì huǐ hòu nán

Regretting before is easy; regretting after is hard