before
before — 介系詞
1. used when something happens on the earlier side of a named time point or event.
早於
在所提時間點之前
used when something happens on the earlier side of a named time point or event.
Rina packed the picnic before sunrise on the last school holiday.
上次學校放假時，Rina 早於日出就把野餐用品收好了。
before + time noun phrase
Please return the library books before Friday afternoon.
請在週五下午前歸還圖書館的書。
The shop closes before the evening rush in this neighborhood.
這一帶的店家在傍晚人潮出現前就打烊了。
No one ate dinner before Dad's return from work.
爸爸下班回來前，大家都還沒吃晚餐。
- earlier than
is a fuller phrase with almost the same meaning
- prior to
is more formal and common in official writing
- after
shows a later time
文法句型
before + time noun phrase
用法筆記
This is the basic time sense. It takes a noun phrase, not a full clause; compare the conjunction in sense 1, as in 'before the bus leaves'.
常見錯誤
2. up to the time or event named, with that point acting as the limit.
未到
直到某時或某事之前
up to the time or event named, with that point acting as the limit.
No buses stop here before six on winter mornings.
冬天早晨未到六點，這裡沒有公車停靠。
negative statement: not before + time
The baby hardly sleeps before midnight on warm nights.
天氣悶熱的夜裡，寶寶未到午夜幾乎都睡不著。
Zane never checks his phone before breakfast with his grandmother.
Zane 陪外婆吃早餐前，從不先看手機。
Few tourists reach the island before the end of June.
通常未到六月底，很少有觀光客到得了那座島。
文法句型
not ... before + time or event noun phrase
用法筆記
Often appears with negatives such as 'no', 'hardly', 'never', and 'few'. Distinguish it from sense 1 by the idea of a limit: the action does not happen until that point is reached.
常見錯誤
3. at an earlier time in your life or in history.
以前
在較早的時候
at an earlier time in your life or in history.
Before the war, the bridge carried farmers across the river.
戰爭以前，那座橋讓農夫能過河。
before + historical event
I had met Nora before our science club trip to Hualien.
我在去花蓮參加科學社旅行前就見過 Nora 了。
Before the internet, our family shared news by letter.
在網路出現以前，我們家靠寫信互通消息。
Before now, our town had never seen snow in May.
在這以前，我們鎮上五月從沒下過雪。
- earlier
is the most direct everyday alternative
- previously
is more formal and common in writing
- later
refers to a following time
文法句型
before + past event
before + named period
before now
用法筆記
Used when the speaker looks back from a later point. Unlike sense 1, it often works without naming one exact deadline and instead points generally to an earlier period.
常見錯誤
4. further forward than someone or something, or placed ahead of them in order, imp
前面；居前
在位置、順序、重要性或未來上較前
further forward than someone or something, or placed ahead of them in order, importance, rank, or the future.
A white van stopped before the school gate at noon.
中午時，一輛白色廂型車停在學校大門前面。
physical position: before + place
Emma's name comes before mine on the class list.
Emma 的名字在班級名單上排在我前面。
order: come before + person
Several hard weeks still lie before the rescue team.
救援隊前面還有好幾個艱難的星期要撐過。
At this hospital, patient safety comes before speed.
在這家醫院，病人安全比速度更重要。
- in front of
is the clearest everyday choice for physical position
- ahead of
often stresses order, progress, or competition
- above
can refer to higher rank, but not all future or order uses
文法句型
before + person or thing in position, order, rank, or future
用法筆記
This sense stretches beyond simple place. It is common with lists and ranks ('come before') and with future situations ('lie before us'). Distinguish it from sense 5, which is specifically about places on a route.
常見錯誤
5. in front of a person or group so they can watch, listen, judge, or decide about
當著；提請
在某人面前供其觀看、審議或裁決
in front of a person or group so they can watch, listen, judge, or decide about it.
The case comes before the city court next Tuesday.
這起案件下週二將提請市法院審理。
formal review: come before + court
Leila sang before a packed hall on opening night.
開演那晚，Leila 當著滿場觀眾唱歌。
perform before + audience
The budget will be placed before the board tomorrow morning.
這份預算案明早會提請董事會審議。
Zane was too nervous to speak before the whole class.
Zane 緊張得不敢當著全班的面發言。
- in front of
fits the audience meaning, but not the formal decision-making meaning as well
- before the court
is a fixed legal expression for cases under review
- in the presence of
is more formal and stresses being watched or heard
文法句型
come before + court or board
speak or perform before + audience
用法筆記
Subject is often a case, plan, bill, or budget when a group must decide about it. With people and audiences, it means in their presence while they watch or listen.
常見錯誤
6. used for a place that comes along the route sooner than the destination you are
先經過
往另一地點途中會先到
used for a place that comes along the route sooner than the destination you are heading for.
There is a gas station before Tainan on Highway 1.
在國道一號上，到台南前會先看到一座加油站。
place before destination
The village sits before the mountain pass on the old road.
沿著那條舊路走，先經過村子才會到山口。
A small temple comes before the bridge from our side.
從我們這一側過去，會先經過一座小廟，才到那座橋。
Before Kaohsiung, the bus stops at Pingtung for ten minutes.
到高雄前，公車會先在屏東停十分鐘。
- ahead of
can also work for route order, but is broader
- on the way to
is less exact and focuses more on the journey than on order
- after
marks a place reached later on the same route
文法句型
place + before + destination
用法筆記
This sense is about travel sequence, not general time. It is common in directions and route descriptions, especially with towns, exits, bridges, and stations.
常見錯誤
before — 副詞
1. at some previous point; earlier in your experience or story.
先前
在較早的時候；之前
at some previous point; earlier in your experience or story.
I had seen that singer once before at the night market.
我先前曾在夜市看過那位歌手一次。
collocation: once before
Before, this room was a bakery for railway workers.
先前，這個房間是給鐵路工人用的麵包坊。
sentence adverb: before, ...
Our teacher explained the rule before, but Sam forgot it.
老師先前講過那條規則，但 Sam 忘了。
The town looked much quieter before than it does today.
這座城鎮先前比今天安靜得多。
- earlier
is the closest everyday alternative
- previously
is more formal and common in writing
- once
can overlap in context, especially with past experience
- later
means at a following time
- afterwards
means following that time or event
文法句型
once before
before + clause pause
had ... before
用法筆記
Unlike the preposition, this use stands alone without an object. Compare with 'beforehand', which usually means in advance of a later event rather than simply at an earlier time.
常見錯誤
2. in the front position or further ahead.
在前方
在前面或更靠前的位置
in the front position or further ahead.
The drum team marched before, with dancers behind them.
遊行時，鼓隊走在前方，舞者跟在後面。
literary adverb: before = ahead
A narrow path opened before, and the children ran toward it.
前方忽然出現一條窄路，孩子們就朝那裡跑去。
The bride's sisters went before, scattering white flower petals.
新娘的姊妹走在前方，一邊撒著白色花瓣。
A security guard walked before, and the guests entered in pairs.
一名警衛走在前方，賓客兩兩進場。
- behind
means at the back or further to the rear
文法句型
stand or shine before
march before
用法筆記
This adverb is much less common than 'ahead' or 'in front'. It appears mostly in literary, descriptive, or old-fashioned narrative styles.
常見錯誤
before — 連接詞
1. at a point sooner than the moment when another action or state begins.
在……前
在另一件事發生之前
at a point sooner than the moment when another action or state begins.
Finish your lunch before the bus leaves the museum.
在公車離開博物館前，先把午餐吃完。
before + full clause
Nina had called me before the storm reached our town.
在暴風雨抵達我們鎮上前，Nina 就先打電話給我了。
Please switch off the oven before you leave for school.
在你去上學前，請把烤箱關掉。
Before the bell rings, every student must sit down quietly.
在鈴聲響起前，每個學生都必須安靜坐好。
- earlier than
fits the time meaning but is less natural for full clauses
- ahead of the time when
is possible, but much less natural in everyday English
- after
shows a later time relation between the two clauses
文法句型
before + subject + verb
用法筆記
This is the clause form of 'before'. It must be followed by a subject and a verb, unlike preposition sense 1, which takes only a noun phrase.
常見錯誤
2. earlier than another action had time to happen.
還沒……就
快得使後一事來不及發生
earlier than another action had time to happen.
The dog grabbed the sandwich before Jin could stop him.
那隻狗還沒等 Jin 攔住牠，就把三明治叼走了。
before + could + verb
Before I could answer, the phone cut off.
我還沒回答，電話就斷線了。
fronted clause with could
The ice melted before the children were ready to skate.
孩子們還沒準備好溜冰，冰就融掉了。
Before anyone noticed, Leo slipped out the back door.
大家還沒注意到，Leo 就從後門溜出去了。
- before ... had time to
explains the same idea more fully
- so quickly that
changes the structure, but keeps the meaning
文法句型
before + subject + could / can + verb
用法筆記
This sense often appears when something happens too quickly for a person to react. 'Before ... could ...' is a very common pattern.
常見錯誤
3. so that an unwanted thing does not happen.
免得
先做某事以防壞事發生
so that an unwanted thing does not happen.
Hide the cake before the children find it in the fridge.
快把蛋糕藏好，免得孩子們在冰箱裡找到。
preventive pattern: act first to stop later event
Take the clothes inside before the rain soaks them.
快把衣服收進來，免得被雨淋濕。
Lock the gate before the dog runs into the street.
把大門鎖好，免得狗跑到馬路上。
Turn off the stove before the milk boils over.
先把爐火關掉，免得牛奶滾出來。
- so that ... not
explains the same purpose more directly
- lest
is much more formal and literary
文法句型
main clause + before + unwanted event clause
用法筆記
The main clause tells someone to act first, and the before-clause names the specific bad event they want to stop. Distinguish from sense 5, which is more about urgency or a lost chance.
常見錯誤
4. not until the time when the action in the clause happens.
要過……才
直到那時或那事發生才
not until the time when the action in the clause happens.
It may be weeks before the road opens again.
可能還要過好幾週，道路才會重新開放。
time expression + before + clause
A long time passed before Hana heard any news.
過了很長一段時間，Hana 才聽到消息。
Several years went by before the brothers met again.
過了好幾年，那對兄弟才再度見面。
It was midnight before the children finally fell asleep.
一直到半夜，孩子們才終於睡著。
文法句型
it was / may be + time + before + clause
用法筆記
This sense usually appears after a period of waiting or delay. The event in the before-clause is the point finally reached after that period.
常見錯誤
5. used to warn or remind that something should happen first, or a bad result or lo
不然
得先做，不然會錯過或出事
used to warn or remind that something should happen first, or a bad result or lost chance may follow.
Leave now before the last train is gone.
現在就走，不然最後一班火車就沒了。
urgent warning: act now or lose chance
Tell Ava today before she hears it from someone else.
今天就告訴 Ava，不然她會從別人口中聽到。
Before I forget, your blue umbrella is still in my car.
不然我等一下又忘了，先跟你說一聲，你的藍色雨傘還在我車上。
Book the table early before every window seat is taken.
早點訂位，不然每個靠窗座位都會被訂走。
- otherwise
states the warning more directly
- while there is still time
spells out the urgency
文法句型
do something before + bad result / missed chance clause
before I forget
用法筆記
Sense 3 focuses on preventing one specific event. This sense is broader and often adds urgency, reminding someone to act while there is still time.
常見錯誤
6. used to show what someone would choose or accept sooner than something else.
寧可
寧願選前者，也不選後者
used to show what someone would choose or accept sooner than something else.
Mina would walk home before she asked that rude man for help.
Mina 寧可走路回家，也不願向那個沒禮貌的男人求助。
would ... before + clause
Before I lie to Grandma, I will tell the truth.
我寧可對 Grandma 說實話，也不願騙她。
fronted preference contrast
Theo chose to sleep outside before he shared the tiny tent.
Theo 寧可睡在外面，也不肯跟人共擠那頂小帳篷。
Carla would practise alone before she quit the team.
Carla 寧可自己練習，也不願退出球隊。
- rather than
is the most direct equivalent
- sooner than
often appears in the same type of preference contrast
文法句型
would ... before + clause
用法筆記
This sense usually compares two choices and says the first one is more acceptable. 'Would ... before ...' is the strongest and most typical pattern.