以前

yǐ qián tā dāng guo lǐ fà yuán

以前他当过理发员。

He used to be a barber.

nián yǐ qián wǒ méi chū guo guó

2009年以前，我没出过国。

I had never gone abroad before 2009.

liǎng gè yuè yǐ qián nǚ péng you hé wǒ fēn shǒu le

两个月以前，女朋友和我分手了。

Two months ago, my girlfriend and I broke up.

wǒ réng rán jiān chí yǐ qián de guān diǎn

我仍然坚持以前的观点。

I still hold my previous views.

yǐ qián gè bǎn

以前各版

all the preceding editions

zhè shì fā shēng zài tā dào dá yǐ qián

这事发生在他到达以前。

It happened prior to his arrival.

jiě fàng yǐ qián

解放以前

before liberation

yǐ qián tā shì gè xué sheng

以前他是个学生。

He was a student before.

tā yǐ qián cóng wèi pèng guo wǔ qì

他以前从未碰过武器。

He had never handled a weapon before.