Correct
预先 vs 事先
/ yùxiān vs shìxiān /
Strokes
Definition
预先 is an Adverb, and 事先 is a Noun, which means [in advance; beforehand].
Example
预先 and 事先, both the two words mean "before an event or action happens", they are adverbials and interchangeable.
1
Nǐ
你
yīnggāi
应该
yùxiān
预先
(
shìxiān
事先
)
gàosù
告诉
wǒ
我
yào
要
fāyán
发言
,
wǒ
我
kěyǐ
可以
zhǔnbèi
准备
yī
一
xià
下
。
You should inform me that I will deliver a speech in advance, so I can prepare it.
2
Tā
他
zhīdào
知道
nàge
那个
dìfāng
地方
ài
爱
xiàyǔ
下雨
,
suǒyǐ
所以
yùxiān
预先
(
shìxiān
事先
)
mǎi
买
le
了
jiàn
件
yǔyī
雨衣
。
He knew it was rainy there, so he bought a raincoat in advance.
3
Nǐ
你
yīnggāi
应该
yùxiān
预先
(
shìxiān
事先
)
dá
打
gè
个
zhāohu
招呼
。
You should have told us in advance.
4
Tā
他
yùxiān
预先
(
shìxiān
事先
)
yǐ
已
zuò
做
le
了
yīxiē
一些
diàochá
调查
。
He conducted some survey in advance.
The difference is in that 预先 stresses the conscious preparation before a thing happens, while 事先 has no such meaning. Therefore, as for unpredictable things, 预先 can not replace 事先.
5
Nā
那
cì
次
dìzhèn
地震
fēicháng
非常
ǒurán
偶然
,
shìxiān
事先
háowú
毫无
jìxiàng
迹象
。
The earthquake took place beyond our expectation, for there's no sign at all before it.
6
Duì
对
zhècì
这次
dōngnányà
东南亚
jīnróng
金融
wēijī
危机
,
lǎobǎixìng
老百姓
shìxiān
事先
dōu
都
háowú
毫无
xīnlǐ
心理
zhǔnbèi
准备
。
All the civilians didn't expected the South Asian financial crisis.
事先 is a Noun and can be used as an attributive with 的; while 预先 is an adverb and can only be used as an adverbial.
7
Tā
他
shìxiān
事先
de
的
tàidu
态度
gēn
跟
xiànzài
现在
zhènghǎo
正好
xiāngfǎn
相反
。
His attitude is different from his previous one.
8
Zhè
这
shì
是
shìxiān
事先
de
的
ānpái
安排
。
This is prearranged.