before
/bɪˈfɔː(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [bɪfˈɔr] /bɪˈfɔːr/ (ame, ipa)
before — 介系詞
1. used with a time, event, or action to show that one thing happens sooner than it
在…前
時間或動作更早
used with a time, event, or action to show that one thing happens sooner than it.
Matthew checked the train time before breakfast and left a note on the table.
Matthew 在早餐前查了火車時間，並在桌上留了字條。
before + noun phrase for earlier time
Before sunrise, Lakshmi watered the balcony plants beside the kitchen window.
天亮前，Lakshmi 在廚房窗邊替陽台植物澆水。
Quinn reread the safety card before takeoff on the crowded evening flight.
Quinn 在擁擠的晚班飛機起飛前又看了一次安全卡。
Tamar checked the map before crossing the old bridge in heavy rain.
Tamar 在大雨中穿過舊橋前先看了地圖。
文法句型
before + noun phrase
before + gerund
用法筆記
Often followed by a noun phrase or an -ing form. Use it for the earlier point, not for the length of time.
2. used after a period of waiting to say that something did not happen until that t
過後才
等一段時間才發生
used after a period of waiting to say that something did not happen until that time had passed.
Nearly midnight passed before Lara heard the baby stop crying upstairs.
快到半夜時，Lara 才聽見樓上的嬰兒不再哭。
time period + before + clause after delay
Three weeks went by before Hamza received a reply from the embassy.
過了三週，Hamza 才收到大使館的回覆。
An hour slipped away before Adaeze found her missing wallet under the seat.
過了一個小時，Adaeze 才在座位下找到遺失的皮夾。
Several calls failed before Kenji reached a nurse at the clinic.
打了好幾通電話後，Kenji 才聯絡上診所的護理師。
文法句型
[time period] + before + clause
it was + [time period] + before + clause
用法筆記
Usually follows an amount of time such as minutes, days, or months. It highlights waiting or delay before the event finally happens.
3. used to say that the same thing happened at an earlier point in your life or mem
以前
先前有過的經驗
used to say that the same thing happened at an earlier point in your life or memory.
I had met Minh once before at a conference in Osaka.
我以前在大阪的一場研討會上見過 Minh 一次。
perfect tense + before for prior experience
Zuri felt sure she had heard that melody somewhere before.
Zuri 很確定自己以前在某處聽過那段旋律。
Christopher had never cooked for thirty guests before that wedding weekend.
在那個婚禮週末之前，Christopher 從沒替三十位客人做過菜。
Lakshmi recognized the street at once because she had been there before.
Lakshmi 一眼就認出那條街，因為她以前去過。
文法句型
have/has/had + verb + before
never + verb + before
用法筆記
Common after perfect forms and verbs such as see, meet, hear, or do. It often implies prior experience rather than simple time order.
4. on the forward side of someone or something.
在前面
位在某物的前方
on the forward side of someone or something.
The child stopped before the glass tank and pointed at the shark.
那個孩子停在玻璃水槽前，指著那條鯊魚。
before + object showing physical front position
A long line formed before the bakery on the cold rainy morning.
那個寒冷的雨天早上，麵包店前排起了長龍。
Hamza stood before the blue curtain while the photographer adjusted the lights.
攝影師調燈時，Hamza 站在藍色簾幕前。
The hikers rested before a stone gate covered with wet moss.
登山客在一座覆滿濕苔的石門前休息。
文法句型
before + place/person
用法筆記
More formal than everyday 'in front of'. It usually marks physical position, not importance or sequence.
5. used when one place, item, or choice is reached or ranked earlier than another.
先到
朝目標前進時會先經過
used when one place, item, or choice is reached or ranked earlier than another.
The pharmacy comes before the bank if you walk from the station.
如果你從車站走過來，藥局會先到，銀行在後面。
route order: reach one place first
On the guest list, Quinn's name appears before Tamar's by one line.
在賓客名單上，Quinn 的名字比 Tamar 早一行。
The park is before the bridge on the road to campus.
通往校園的那條路上，公園會先到，橋在後面。
In the alphabet, K comes before L and after J.
在字母表裡，K 排在 L 前面，在 J 後面。
文法句型
before + place on a route
before + item in an order
用法筆記
Used for routes, lists, and priorities. The thing after 'before' is the later stop, later item, or less important choice.
6. in the hands of an authority that will examine, discuss, or decide the matter.
送審
交由法官或委員會處理
in the hands of an authority that will examine, discuss, or decide the matter.
The budget plan is before the city council this afternoon.
這項預算案今天下午正送審到市議會。
before + authority handling a proposal
Two witnesses appeared before the judge after lunch on Tuesday.
兩名證人星期二午飯後在法官面前出庭。
The appeal will come before the board early next month.
這件上訴案下個月初將送交董事會審議。
A new safety rule is before the committee for discussion tonight.
一項新的安全規定今晚正由委員會討論。
文法句型
before + court/committee/board
appear before + judge
用法筆記
Common with courts, judges, boards, and committees. The authority after 'before' is the one that will decide or examine the matter.
7. with other people present to watch, hear, or witness what happens.
當著
在旁人面前；讓其聽見
with other people present to watch, hear, or witness what happens.
Lara sang before hundreds of visitors in the open-air square.
Lara 在露天廣場上當著數百名遊客唱歌。
before + audience
Hamza refused to argue before the children during dinner.
Hamza 不肯在吃晚飯時當著孩子們的面爭吵。
Adaeze spoke briefly before the press after the final match.
決賽後，Adaeze 在媒體前簡短發言。
文法句型
before + audience/group
用法筆記
Often used with witnesses, crowds, or the press. It stresses that other people are present to hear or watch.
8. waiting for someone in the future, often as a task, season, or choice they must
在前頭
未來正等著某人
waiting for someone in the future, often as a task, season, or choice they must face.
A difficult winter lies before the mountain village this year.
對這座山村來說，今年前頭有個艱難的冬天。
future situation waiting ahead
With exams before her, Lakshmi canceled the weekend trip.
因為考試在前頭，Lakshmi 取消了週末旅行。
Several hard choices stood before the new manager that morning.
那天早上，新經理面前擺著好幾個艱難的選擇。
文法句型
before + person
before + group
用法筆記
Usually pairs with future-looking nouns such as task, summer, or choice. It points to what is waiting ahead.
before — 副詞
1. at some point earlier; not for the first time.
先前
較早的時候；以前
at some point earlier; not for the first time.
I had seen that narrow alley before, so I turned left at once.
我先前看過那條狹窄的巷子，所以立刻左轉。
standalone adverb meaning previously
Kenji had lived in Seoul before and knew the subway well.
Kenji 先前住過首爾，所以很熟地鐵。
We spoke to that guide before during our spring trip.
我們春遊時先前就跟那位導遊談過話。
Lara looked at me as if we had met before.
Lara 看著我，像是我們先前見過。
文法句型
have/has/had + verb + before
the night/day before
用法筆記
Often comes with perfect tenses or phrases such as 'the night before'. It refers back to an earlier time that is already known.
2. in front, moving or positioned ahead of others.
在前
在前方先行
in front, moving or positioned ahead of others.
The scout rode before while the supply truck crawled through the mud.
偵察員在前先騎，補給卡車則在泥地裡緩慢前進。
before meaning ahead in movement
A pale lantern swung before as the group entered the cave.
隊伍走進洞穴時，前方有一盞昏黃的提燈晃動著。
Two drummers marched before, and the dancers followed behind them.
兩名鼓手走在前頭，舞者跟在他們後面。
文法句型
move/go/march + before
用法筆記
Rare outside formal or literary descriptions of movement. In everyday English, speakers usually choose 'ahead' or 'in front'.
3. in legal or official English, under the attention of an authority that will judg
待審
正交由機關審理或裁決
in legal or official English, under the attention of an authority that will judge or act on the matter.
The fraud case is before the court again next Monday.
這宗詐欺案下週一將再次由法院審理。
formal legal use
A climate bill comes before Congress later this week.
一項氣候法案本週稍後將交由國會審議。
The complaint first came before the board in April.
這項申訴最早在四月送交董事會處理。
文法句型
be before + court/body
come before + congress/board
用法筆記
Mostly legal or parliamentary. Common with verbs such as 'come' or 'be' when a court, board, or congress is dealing with a case or bill.
before — 連接詞
1. at a time earlier than the one when another action happens.
還沒…就
另一件事發生前
at a time earlier than the one when another action happens.
Finish the soup before the noodles get too soft.
還沒等麵變得太軟，就先把湯喝完。
before + clause for later event
Kenji locked the studio before he left for the station.
Kenji 去車站前先把工作室鎖好。
Before the lights went out, Lara found the spare batteries.
還沒停電，Lara 就找到了備用電池。
Call me before your train reaches Taichung after sunset.
你的火車在日落後抵達台中前，先打給我。
文法句型
main clause + before + clause
before + clause, + main clause
用法筆記
This is the ordinary time-order sense. The 'before' clause names the later event, while the main clause tells what happens earlier.
2. only after a stated event happens or after a period of waiting ends.
直到
過了那時或那事才
only after a stated event happens or after a period of waiting ends.
It was noon before the clouds cleared above the harbor.
直到中午，港口上空的雲才散開。
delayed result after a period of time
Two days passed before the repair team reached the village.
過了兩天，修繕隊才抵達村子。
An awkward silence grew before anyone answered the teacher.
尷尬的沉默維持了好一會兒，直到有人回答老師。
Months went by before Adaeze trusted the new medication.
過了好幾個月，Adaeze 才信任那種新藥。
文法句型
[time period] + before + clause
it was + [time period] + before + clause
用法筆記
Often follows expressions of time or waiting such as 'hours', 'days', or 'months'. It emphasizes that the later event took time to arrive.
3. used to say someone would choose one action sooner than another.
寧可
寧願如此也不願另一事
used to say someone would choose one action sooner than another.
Hamza would walk home before he asked his rude cousin for money.
Hamza 寧可走路回家，也不願向沒禮貌的表親借錢。
would ... before ... for strong refusal
Lakshmi would resign before she signed a false report.
Lakshmi 寧可辭職，也不肯簽那份不實報告。
The chef would close the cafe before serving frozen soup.
那位主廚寧可把咖啡館關掉，也不願端出冷凍湯。
文法句型
would + main action + before + clause
用法筆記
Usually appears with 'would' to show strong refusal or preference. The speaker chooses the main-clause action instead of the one in the 'before' clause.
4. used after an instruction to show the action that should happen first so a probl
免得
先做某事以免出問題
used after an instruction to show the action that should happen first so a problem does not follow.
Save the file before the laptop battery dies during the presentation.
在簡報時筆電沒電前，先把檔案存起來，免得資料不見。
first action taken to avoid a problem
Hold the rail before you step onto the icy path outside.
走到外面那條結冰小路前，先扶好欄杆，免得滑倒。
Check the gas valve before you leave the kitchen tonight.
今晚離開廚房前先檢查瓦斯閥，免得出事。
文法句型
do X before + clause
check/save/hold + object + before + clause
用法筆記
Common in advice and instructions. The first action is recommended as a way to stop a problem from happening.
5. used in warnings to mean that a bad result will happen if someone does not act s
否則
不立刻做就會出事
used in warnings to mean that a bad result will happen if someone does not act soon.
Put your name on the lunch box before someone else takes it.
把名字寫在便當盒上，否則別人會拿走。
warning about what will happen otherwise
Hurry before the shop closes for the holiday weekend.
快一點，否則店家過節週末就要打烊了。
Step back before the branch snaps under the heavy snow.
退後一點，否則那根樹枝會被厚雪壓斷。
文法句型
imperative + before + clause
hurry/move/step back + before + clause
用法筆記
Stronger than sense 4. It sounds like a warning that a bad result will follow if action is not taken quickly.