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earlier than somebody/something 在…以前 before lunch 午餐前 the day before yesterday 前天 The year before last he won a gold medal, and the year before that he won a silver. 他前年得了一枚金牌,大前年得了一枚银牌。 She's lived there since before the war. 她从战前起就一直住在那里。 He arrived before me. 他比我先到。 She became a lawyer as her father had before her. 像她父亲先前一样,她成了一名律师。 Leave your keys at reception before departure. 离开前请把钥匙留在服务台。 Something ought to have been done before now. 先前就该采取措施了。 We'll know before long (= soon). 我们很快就会知道了。 Turn left just before (= before you reach) the bank. 在快到银行时向左拐。
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used to say that somebody/something is ahead of somebody/something in an order or arrangement (次序或排列)在前面 Your name is before mine on the list. 名单上你的名字在我之前。 He puts his work before everything (= regards it as more important than anything else). 他一切以工作为重。
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used to say that somebody/something is in a position in front of somebody/something 在…面前(或前面) They knelt before the throne. 他们跪在御座前。 Before you is a list of the points we have to discuss. 放在你面前的是一份我们所要讨论的要点清单。
used to say that something is facing somebody in the future (表示面临或临近) in the presence of somebody who is listening, watching, etc. 当面 - (formal)
used to say how somebody reacts when they have to face somebody/something (表示面对某人、某事时的反应)
Word OriginOld English beforan (see by, fore), of Germanic origin; related to German bevor.