Correct
从前 vs 以前
/ cóngqián vs yǐqián /
Strokes
Definition
从前 and 以前, both are Time Nouns, which means [before].
Example
从前 and 以前, besides being subject and object, they can also be used as an attributive or adverbial to indicate past tense.
1) The difference is that 以前 can be used immediately after a verb or a verbal phrase, while 从前 cannot. 从前 sounds a longer time ago than 以前.
2) In the two examples, 从前 cannot be used.
2) In the two examples, 从前 cannot be used.
1
Shuìjiào
睡觉
yǐqián
以前
,
tā
他
tīng
听
le
了
yīhuìr
一会儿
yīnyuè
音乐
。
Before going to sleep,he listened to the music for a while.
2
Nǐ
你
bìxū
必须
zài
在
huìyì
会议
kāimù
开幕
zhīqián
之前
wánchéng
完成
zhè
这
fèn
份
wénjiàn
文件
.
You must complete the document before the opening of the meeting.
In the following examples, the two words are interchangeable.
3
Cóngqián
从前
(
yǐqián
以前
)
wǒmen
我们
jiā
家
zài
在
tiānjīn
天津
zhù
住
guò
过
。
We once lived in Tianjin.
4
Cóngqián
从前
(
yǐqián
以前
)
shì
是
cóngqián
从前
(
yǐqián
以前
)
,
xiànzài
现在
kě
可
bu
不
yīyàng
一样
le
了
。
The past has passed, and things are quite different now.
5
Nǐ
你
cóngqián
从前
(
yǐqián
以前
)
lái
来
guò
过
zhèlǐ
这里
ma
吗
?
Have you ever been here before?
6
Tā
她
háishi
还是
cóngqián
从前
(
yǐqián
以前
)
de
的
tā
她
,
yīdiǎnr
一点儿
yě
也
méi
没
biàn
变
。
She is the same as she was.
If there follows a clause such as 从来没……过，以前从来没……过 is used to avoid the repetition of 从.
7
Wǒ
我
yǐqián
以前
cónglái
从来
méi
没
tīngshuō
听说
guò
过
zhège
这个
rén
人
。
I have never heard this man before.
8
Wǒ
我
yǐqián
以前
cónglái
从来
méi
没
qù
去
guò
过
nàli
那里
。
I have never been there before.