之前 zhīqián HSK4 before Definitions Defs Origin Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents zhīqián before · previously 之 zhī particle [possessive] Connects a describing word or phrase to the noun it describes, similar to 的 de but used in formal or literary writing.前 qián prepositionlocative before (bound form) ago; before; earlier; previouslyzhīqián in front of 之 zhī particle [possessive] Connects a describing word or phrase to the noun it describes, similar to 的 de but used in formal or literary writing.前 qián locativenoun front (bound form) front; forward; ahead; facing direction. Use 前边 qiánbian or 前面 qiánmiàn for the standalone noun.
