Learn Mandarin Chinese: Using 'ago' and 'last' for Past Time
Master how to say 'ago' with 前 (qián) and 'last' with 上 (shàng) to talk about past events in Mandarin Chinese. This lesson covers placement, examples, and common mistakes.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In Mandarin Chinese, to talk about past events, you don't change verb tenses. Instead, you use time words. Two essential patterns are 'ago' with 前 (qián) and 'last' with 上 (shàng). For example, 'I saw her two days ago' is 我两天前看见她了 (Wǒ liǎng tiān qián kànjiàn tā le). Here, 前 (qián) follows the time period. For 'last', you use 上 (shàng) before the time word, as in 上个星期 (shàng ge xīngqī, last week). This lesson will teach you how to place these time expressions correctly in sentences, so you can talk about when things happened. You'll learn the patterns, see examples, and practice using them.
By the end, you can…
- use 前 (qián) after a time period to mean 'ago'.
- use 上 (shàng) before a time word to mean 'last'.
- form simple sentences about past events using these time markers.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
两天前
two days ago
liǎng tiān qián
Time period + 前. Used to say how long ago something happened. 前 (qián) follows the time period.
上个星期
last week
shàng ge xīngqī
上 + measure word + time word. Used for the previous week.
我两天前看见她了。
I saw her two days ago.
Wǒ liǎng tiān qián kànjiàn tā le.
Time expression comes before the verb. 了 (le) indicates a completed action (here, the seeing is completed).
上个月我去中国了。
I went to China last month.
Shàng ge yuè wǒ qù Zhōngguó le.
Time expression at the beginning of the sentence. 了 (le) marks the completed action 去 (qù).
三年前我住在北京。
I lived in Beijing three years ago.
Sān nián qián wǒ zhù zài Běijīng.
Time expression at the beginning. With 住 (zhù) describing a past state, 了 (le) is not required; context (三年前) makes the past clear.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To say 'ago' in Chinese, use: Time Period + 前 (qián). For example, 两天前 (liǎng tiān qián) = two days ago. 前 (qián) literally means 'front' or 'before'. To say 'last', use: 上 (shàng) + Measure Word + Time Word. For example, 上个星期 (shàng ge xīngqī) = last week. 上 (shàng) means 'up' or 'previous'. The time expression usually comes before the verb or at the beginning of the sentence. If the action is completed, add 了 (le) after the verb. Example: 我昨天看了一个电影。(Wǒ zuótiān kàn le yí ge diànyǐng.) I watched a movie yesterday. Note that 了 (le) marks a completed action, not past tense in general; with stative verbs like 住 (zhù) or 是 (shì), 了 (le) is often omitted when the past time word already makes the time clear.
When to use it
Use 前 (qián) when you want to say how long ago something happened, like 'two days ago' or 'three years ago'. Use 上 (shàng) when you refer to the previous unit of time, like 'last week', 'last month', or 'last year'. Note that 上 (shàng) is not used for 'yesterday'; that's 昨天 (zuótiān). Also, for 'last week', you can say 上个星期 (shàng ge xīngqī) or 上星期 (shàng xīngqī) without the measure word. Both are correct. For 'last month', 上个月 (shàng ge yuè) is common. For 'last year', 去年 (qùnián) is a special word, not 上年 (shàng nián).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你什么时候看见她的？
When did you see her?Nǐ shénme shíhou kànjiàn tā de?我两天前看见她了。
I saw her two days ago.Wǒ liǎng tiān qián kànjiàn tā le.上个星期你去哪儿了？
Where did you go last week?Shàng ge xīngqī nǐ qù nǎr le?我去北京了。
I went to Beijing.Wǒ qù Běijīng le.A little context goes a long way
In Mandarin, time expressions are essential for indicating when an event happened, because verbs do not change form for tense. The particle 了 (le) does not simply mean 'past tense'; it marks a completed action or a change of state, and it is often omitted with stative verbs or when a past time word already makes the time clear. In some contexts, especially in northern China, people may omit 个 (ge) in 'last week' and say 上星期 (shàng xīngqī). Also, for 'last year', use 去年 (qùnián), not 上年 (shàng nián). Being aware of these nuances helps you sound more natural.
One thing to watch for
Placing 前 (qián) before the time period, as in 前两天 (qián liǎng tiān) for 'two days ago'.
Try this instead: In Chinese, 前 (qián) comes after the time period: 两天前 (liǎng tiān qián). Similarly, for 'last week', use 上个星期 (shàng ge xīngqī), not 个上星期 (ge shàng xīngqī).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'three days ago' in Chinese?
Show a sample answer
三天前 (sān tiān qián)
The pattern is time period + 前 (qián). So 'three days' is 三天 (sān tiān), and adding 前 (qián) gives 'three days ago'.
2Translate: 'I went to China last month.'
Show a sample answer
上个月我去中国了。(Shàng ge yuè wǒ qù Zhōngguó le.)
Use 上个月 (shàng ge yuè) for 'last month'. The time expression can go at the beginning. Add 了 (le) after the verb to mark the completed action.
3What is the difference between 前 (qián) and 上 (shàng) in time expressions?
Show a sample answer
前 (qián) means 'ago' and follows a time period, while 上 (shàng) means 'last' and precedes a time word.
前 (qián) is used for durations before now, like 两天前 (two days ago). 上 (shàng) is used for the previous unit, like 上个星期 (last week).
Remember: 前 (qián) after a time period means 'ago'; 上 (shàng) before a time word means 'last'. Place time expressions before the verb or at the start of the sentence, and use 了 (le) to mark completed actions (not past tense in general).
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