Learn Chinese Time Clauses with 以后 (yǐhòu) and 以前 (yǐqián)
Master Mandarin time clauses using 以后 (after) and 以前 (before) to link events. Build complex sentences like 'After I ate, I left.'
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In Mandarin, to express that one event happens before or after another, you use time clauses with 以后 (yǐhòu, after) and 以前 (yǐqián, before). Unlike simple sequencing words like 先 (xiān, first) and 然后 (ránhòu, then), these clauses create subordinate relationships, allowing you to embed one action within the timeline of another. This lesson teaches you to form such clauses with verbs and time nouns, and to use them naturally in conversation. You will learn the basic pattern: Clause 1 + 以后/以前, Clause 2. For example, 'After I ate, I left' becomes 我吃了以后，就走了 (Wǒ chī le yǐhòu, jiù zǒu le). Note that the clause order can sometimes be reversed, but the default is time clause first. Pay attention to the placement of 以后 and 以前, which follow the verb phrase or time word. We will also cover common pitfalls, such as using 以后 with a past event incorrectly. By the end, you will be able to link events smoothly and accurately.
By the end, you can…
- form sentences using 以后 (yǐhòu) to mean 'after doing something'.
- form sentences using 以前 (yǐqián) to mean 'before doing something'.
- distinguish between 以后/以前 clauses and simple sequencing with 先/然后.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
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我吃了以后，就走了。
After I ate, I left.
Wǒ chī le yǐhòu, jiù zǒu le.
Basic pattern: Verb + 了 + 以后, then main clause. 就 (jiù) emphasizes that the second action follows immediately.
睡觉以前，我要刷牙。
Before sleeping, I need to brush my teeth.
Shuìjiào yǐqián, wǒ yào shuā yá.
Verb phrase + 以前, then main clause. 以前 can also follow time nouns like 三点以前 (sān diǎn yǐqián, before 3 o'clock).
下课以后，我们一起去吃饭吧。
After class, let's go eat together.
Xiàkè yǐhòu, wǒmen yìqǐ qù chīfàn ba.
以后 can follow a verb phrase (下课, xiàkè, finish class) to mean 'after that event'.
来中国以前，我不会说中文。
Before coming to China, I couldn't speak Chinese.
Lái Zhōngguó yǐqián, wǒ bú huì shuō Zhōngwén.
以前 clause can describe a past state. Note the use of 不会 (bú huì, could not) for past inability.
他走了以后，我才发现钱包不见了。
Only after he left did I discover my wallet was missing.
Tā zǒu le yǐhòu, wǒ cái fāxiàn qiánbāo bú jiàn le.
才 (cái) in the main clause emphasizes a delayed realization. This is a common narrative structure.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is: [Clause 1] + 以后/以前, [Clause 2]. Clause 1 can be a verb phrase (often with 了 for completed actions) or a time noun. For example, 我吃了以后，就去学校 (Wǒ chī le yǐhòu, jiù qù xuéxiào) means 'After I ate, I went to school.' With 以前: 我吃饭以前，要洗手 (Wǒ chīfàn yǐqián, yào xǐshǒu) means 'Before I eat, I need to wash my hands.' Note that 以后 and 以前 come after the verb phrase, not before. The time clause normally comes first; reversing the order is possible in speech but much less common: 我就去学校，我吃了以后 (Wǒ jiù qù xuéxiào, wǒ chī le yǐhòu). The subject can appear before the time clause or after, but typically it's before: 我吃了以后，我就走了 (Wǒ chī le yǐhòu, wǒ jiù zǒu le). However, if the subjects are the same, you can omit the second subject: 我吃了以后，就走了 (Wǒ chī le yǐhòu, jiù zǒu le).
When to use it
Use 以后/以前 clauses when you want to show a temporal relationship between two events, especially when one event is a prerequisite or trigger for another. For instance, in instructions: 到了以后，给我打电话 (Dào le yǐhòu, gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà) 'After you arrive, call me.' In narratives: 他毕业以前，找到了工作 (Tā bìyè yǐqián, zhǎodào le gōngzuò) 'Before he graduated, he found a job.' For simultaneous events, use 的时候 (de shíhòu, when) instead: 我吃饭的时候，看电视 (Wǒ chīfàn de shíhòu, kàn diànshì) 'When I eat, I watch TV.' Also, note that 以后 can mean 'in the future' when used alone: 以后我要去中国 (Yǐhòu wǒ yào qù Zhōngguó) 'In the future, I want to go to China.' But in a clause, it retains the 'after' meaning.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你昨天做了什么？
What did you do yesterday?Nǐ zuótiān zuò le shénme?我吃了晚饭以后，去看了电影。
After I ate dinner, I went to see a movie.Wǒ chī le wǎnfàn yǐhòu, qù kàn le diànyǐng.看电影以前，你做了什么？
Before the movie, what did you do?Kàn diànyǐng yǐqián, nǐ zuò le shénme?看电影以前，我在家休息。
Before the movie, I rested at home.Kàn diànyǐng yǐqián, wǒ zài jiā xiūxi.A little context goes a long way
In Mandarin, time clauses with 以后/以前 are common in both spoken and written Chinese. When speaking, intonation often rises slightly at the end of the time clause, signaling continuation. In formal writing, you might see 之后 (zhīhòu) and 之前 (zhīqián) instead of 以后/以前, which are more literary. For example, 会议之后 (huìyì zhīhòu, after the meeting). However, in everyday conversation, 以后/以前 are perfectly appropriate. Also, note that Chinese often prefers to put the time clause first, unlike English where it can be flexible. This reflects a general tendency in Chinese to go from general to specific, or from background to foreground.
One thing to watch for
Placing 以后 or 以前 before the verb, as in 我以后吃了，就走了 (Wǒ yǐhòu chī le, jiù zǒu le) to mean 'After I ate, I left.'
Try this instead: 以后 and 以前 must follow the verb phrase or time noun. The correct sentence is 我吃了以后，就走了 (Wǒ chī le yǐhòu, jiù zǒu le). Remember: [Verb + 以后/以前], not [以后/以前 + Verb].
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Translate: 'After I finish work, I go home.' (Use 以后)
Show a sample answer
我下班以后，回家。
下班 (xiàbān) means 'finish work'. The pattern is Verb + 以后, then main clause. Note that in Chinese, the present tense is often unmarked, so 回家 can mean 'go home' habitually. Alternatively, you could say 我下班以后，就回家 (Wǒ xiàbān yǐhòu, jiù huí jiā) to emphasize immediacy.
2Translate: 'Before I sleep, I read a book.' (Use 以前)
Show a sample answer
我睡觉以前，看书。
睡觉 (shuìjiào) means 'sleep'. The pattern is Verb + 以前, then main clause. Again, tense is contextual. You could also say 我睡觉以前，会看书 (Wǒ shuìjiào yǐqián, huì kàn shū) to indicate a habitual action.
3Which is correct: 我以后吃饭，去学校 or 我吃饭以后，去学校?
Show a sample answer
我吃饭以后，去学校。
以后 must follow the verb phrase 吃饭. The first option incorrectly places 以后 before the verb, which would mean 'I, in the future, eat, go to school', which is not the intended meaning. The correct sentence means 'After I eat, I go to school.'
Use 以后 (after) and 以前 (before) after verb phrases or time nouns to create time clauses. Remember: Clause 1 + 以后/以前, Clause 2. Avoid placing them before the verb.
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