1. earlier than a specific time or event
在（某個特定時間或事件）之前
Please arrive before 9 o'clock.
請在九點之前到達。
We need to finish this before the meeting.
我們需要在會議之前完成這個。
Before Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
before
preposition
快速理解
What does "Before" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Before"?
表示時間、順序或位置上的「在…之前」。
- 1
時間較早
EN: earlier than a specific time or event
翻譯: 指某個特定時間或事件發生之前。
- 2
順序在先
EN: in front of in order or importance
翻譯: 指在順序或重要性上排在前面。
- 3
位置在前
EN: in front of someone or something
翻譯: 指在某人或某物的前方位置。
- 4
面對權威
EN: in the presence of an authority figure
翻譯: 指在權威人士（如法官）的面前。
小提醒：注意「before」用於時間時，常與「after」對比；用於位置時，常與「behind」對比。
發音（How to Pronounce "Before" in English）
How to pronounce "Before" in English?"Before" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Before" from YouTube Videos
South Korea would accept Trump-Kim deal to freeze North Korea’s nuclear programme | BBC News
BBC News
“And Kim Jong-un saying, really for the first time since Trump returned to office, that he would be willing to sit down with President Trump, but with this one key caveat: that the US would need to drop this demand for North Korea to get rid of its nuclear weapons, this denuclearization which has been on the table before.”
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Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Before"?How does "Before" change by context?
2. in front of someone or something
在（某人或某物）前面
He stood before the judge.
他站在法官面前。
There is a long road before us.
我們面前有一條漫長的道路。
3. in preference to; rather than
寧願…也不；與其…不如
I would choose tea before coffee.
我寧願選茶也不選咖啡。
They put quality before quantity.
他們把品質看得比數量更重要。
4. earlier than the time when
在…之前（連接兩個子句）
Think before you speak.
說話前要先思考。
I had finished my work before he arrived.
在他到達之前，我已經完成了我的工作。
5. at an earlier time; already; previously
以前；之前；早已
I have seen this movie before.
我以前看過這部電影。
She had never been there before.
她以前從未去過那裡。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Before"?How to make natural sentences with "Before"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| before + noun/noun phrase | 在…之前 | We should finish the report **before Friday**. (我們應該在週五之前完成報告。) |
| before + V-ing | 在做…之前 | **Before leaving**, please turn off the lights. (離開前，請關燈。) |
| before + clause (subject + verb) | 在…發生之前 | She had already left **before I arrived**. (在我到達之前，她就已經離開了。) |
| long before + noun/clause | 早在…之前 | He was a famous writer **long before that movie**. (早在這部電影之前，他就是一位知名作家了。) |
| shortly/shortly before + noun/clause | 就在…前不久 | The accident happened **shortly before midnight**. (事故就在午夜前不久發生。) |
| the day/week/year before | 前一天/前一週/前一年 | I met him **the day before yesterday**. (我前天遇到了他。) |
| It won't be long before + clause | 不久就會… | **It won't be long before** they announce the results. (不久之後他們就會公布結果。) |
用法說明
How is "Before" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Before"?
before doing vs before to do
- before doing 是唯一正確的結構，用於表示在某個動作或事件「之前」發生的另一個動作。介系詞
before後面必須接動名詞 (V-ing)。 - before to do 是常見的錯誤結構。在標準英文中，介系詞
before後面不能直接接不定詞 (to + V)。 - 當
before作為連接詞引導子句時，後面則接完整的主詞和動詞，例如：before we start。
對比例句： EN: Please wash your hands before eating. 翻譯: 吃東西前請先洗手。
EN:Please wash your hands before to eat.
翻譯:(錯誤用法)
對比例句： EN: He double-checked the address before sending the package. 翻譯: 他在寄出包裹前再次確認了地址。
EN:He double-checked the address before to send the package.
翻譯:(錯誤用法)
總結建議
記住 before 作為介系詞時，其後應接動名詞 (doing)，而非不定詞 (to do)。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Before" and similar words?How to choose "Before" vs alternatives?
before vs until
"before" 表示某個時間點之前，而 "until" 表示持續到某個時間點為止。
before vs in front of
表示空間位置時，"before" 較正式或用於抽象情境，"in front of" 則為具體位置的通用說法。
before vs prior to
"before" 為通用說法，"prior to" 較正式，多用於書面或特定情境。
口語用法
How is "Before" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Before"?
引述
在口語中，常以 "before" 引述先前說過的話或想法，作為背景說明。 EN: I was about to leave, but then I remembered what you said before. 翻譯: 我本來要走了，但後來想起了你之前說過的話。
EN:Like I mentioned before, this project needs more time.
翻譯:就像我之前提過的，這個專案需要更多時間。
語氣強調
用 "before" 來強調某件事是首次發生或從未發生過，常與 "never" 或 "ever" 連用。 EN: I've never felt this excited before! 翻譯: 我從來沒有這麼興奮過！
EN:Have you ever tried this before?
翻譯:你以前試過這個嗎？
停頓填充
在思考下一句話時，有時會用 "before" 作為短暫的停頓填充詞，尤其是在比較或排序的語境中。 EN: We should finish the report, and before... uh, we need to check the data. 翻譯: 我們應該完成報告，然後在…呃，我們需要先檢查數據。
EN:She wants to travel to Japan, but before that, she has to save up some money.
翻譯:她想去日本旅行，但在那之前，她得先存點錢。
正式寫作注意：在正式或學術寫作中，應避免將 "before" 用作思考停頓的填充詞，並確保其引述或時間關係的用法清晰、結構完整。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Before"?What fixed phrases with "Before" should I remember?
before long
adverbial phrase
不久之後
the day before yesterday
noun phrase
前天
before now
adverbial phrase
在此之前；到目前為止
before (one's) time
prepositional phrase
在（某人）出生或活躍的時代之前；過早
appear before
verb + before + noun
出庭（受審）；在...面前出現
before everything else
adverbial phrase
優先於一切；首先
put the cart before the horse
idiom (verb phrase)
本末倒置；順序顛倒
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Before"?Which "Before" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×I will call you before I will arrive.
✓I will call you before I arrive.
在時間副詞子句中（由 before, after, when, until 等引導），即使主句是未來式，子句也要用現在式表示未來。
×I saw him before two days.
✓I saw him two days ago.
表示「在…之前」的具體時間點，若指從現在算起的過去某個時間，應使用 "ago"。"Before" 通常用於指在另一個過去事件或時間點之前，或用於泛指「以前」。
×Think before to speak.
✓Think before speaking.
"Before" 作為介系詞時，後面應接名詞或動名詞 (V-ing)，而非不定詞。
×I have never been there before two years.
✓I had never been there before.
"Before" 單獨使用表示「以前、從前」時，常與完成式連用，且不接具體的時間長度。要表達「在…時間之前」應用 "before + 特定時間點"。
×Before you help me, I couldn't solve it.
✓Before you helped me, I couldn't solve it.
當 "before" 引導的子句描述一個發生在過去的特定事件時，動詞應使用過去式，以與主句的時態保持一致。
×Put on sunscreen before go outside.
✓Put on sunscreen before going outside.
在祈使句或簡單指示中，"before" 作為介系詞，後面應接動名詞 (V-ing) 來表示後續的動作。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Before"?What are tense/participle forms of "Before"?