释义 |
before
adv
at an earlier time; in the past; already 以前; 过去; 已经
You should have told me so before. 你早就应该告诉我.
It had been fine the day/week before, ie the previous day/week. 前一天[一周]天气很好(以过去某时为准的前一天[一周]).
That had happened long before, ie a long time earlier. 那事老早就发生了(比过去某时早得多).
I´ve seen that film before. 我以前看过那部影片. =>Usage at before2 用法见before2. Cf 参看 after1, afterwards.
before prep
1 earlier than (sb/sth) 早於(某人[某事物]); 在(某人[某事物])以前: before lunch 午餐前
the day before yesterday 前天
two days before Christmas 圣诞节的前两天
The year before last he won a gold medal, and the year before that he won the silver. 他前年赢得一枚金牌, 大前年赢得一枚银牌.
She´s lived there since before the war. 她从战前就一直住在那里.
He arrived before me. 他在我之前到达.
He taught English as his father had before him. 他教过英语, 他父亲以前也教过英语.
Something ought to have been done before now. 早就该采取措施了.
We´ll know before long, ie soon. 我们不久就会知道.
Turn left just before (ie before you reach) the cinema. 在快要到电影院时向左拐. Cf 参看 after2 1.
2
(a) (with reference to position) in front of (sb/sth) (指位置)在(某人[某物])前面
We knelt before the throne. 我们在御座前跪下.
(fig 比喻) The task before us is not an easy one. 我们面临的任务可不轻. Cf 参看behind2 1.
(b) (with reference to order or arrangement) in front of (sb/sth); ahead of (指顺序或排列)在(某人[某事物])之前; 先於(某人[某事物])
B comes before C in the alphabet. B在字母表里排在C之前.
Your name comes before mine on the list. 名单上你的名字在我之前.
ladies before gentlemen 女士优先於先生
He puts his work before everything, ie regards it as more important than anything else. 他把工作放在第一位(看得比任何事都重要). Cf 参看 after2 3. 3 in the presence of (sb) 在(某人)面前
He was brought before the judge. 他被带到法官面前.
She said it before witnesses. 她是当著证人的面说的.
He made a statement before the House of Commons. 他在下议院当众发表了一个声明.
4 (fml 文) rather than (sth); in preference to 与其..., 不如...; 宁可
death before dishonour 宁死不受辱.
5 (fml 文) under pressure from (sb/sth) 被(某人[某事物])所迫
Our troops recoiled before the attack. 我部队迫於敌人的进攻而後撤.
They retreated before the enemy. 他们迫於敌方压力而退却.
The ship sailed before the wind, ie with the wind blowing from behind. 轮船顺风航行. before, NOTE ON USAGE 用法:
1 In front of and behind are prepositions and opposite in meaning *in front of和behind均用作介词, 但意思相反. They indicate the relative position of people or things 这两个词语都指人或事物的相对位置
Johnny is in front of me in the photo. 照片中约翰尼在我的前面.
The garage is behind the house. 车房在房子的後面.
The dog ran in front of the bus. 狗在公共汽车前面跑.
The mouse ran behind the cupboard. 老鼠在柜子後面跑.
2 In front and behind are also adverbs *in front和behind还可作副词
I´d like to sit in front. 我愿意坐在前面.
The taxi followed on behind. 计程车在後面跟著.
3 Before and after relate to time and can be *before和after可指时间, 可作
(a) adverbs 副词
the day after/before 次 日[前一日]
I had met him before. 我在那事之前就见过他.
I´ll see you after. (Here afterwards is more common.) 我以後再见你. (此处用afterwards更普通.)
(b) prepositions 介词
the day after/before my birthday 我生日的次日[前一日]
I´ll see you after the meeting. 散会後我再见你.
(c) conjunctions 连词
We had dinner after/before they arrived. 他们到达之後[之前]我们吃的饭.
4 Before and after can suggest place, especially when this is closely associated with time or order in a sequence. *before和after亦可指地点, 尤其用於所指的地点是与时间或先後顺序有密切关系时. I was before/after you in the queue. 我排队排在你前面[後面].
C comes before E in the alphabet. 在字母表里C排在E之前.
before conj
1 earlier than the time when (指时间)在...以前
Do it before you forget. 趁早动手, 免得忘了.
It may be many years before we meet again. 大概要过许多年我们才能再见.
Before the week was out (ie had ended), they were dead. 那个星期还没过完他们就死了.
It will be a long time before we finish this dictionary. 我们需要很长的时间才能把这部词典编译完. Cf 参看 after3.
2 rather than 宁愿: I´d shoot myself before I apologized to him! 我宁死也不向他道歉!
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