Mandarin Sprout
HSK learning path
0-day streak
48 original HSK 2 lessons
Stage 2 · Lesson 8

Talking about before and after

Sequence past events and future plans.

16 new words2 sessions · 20–25 minutes each0/38 correct without hintsReview the preceding lesson

New HSK 2 vocabulary

Only this lesson’s new HSK 2 entries appear here. HSK 1 words return in dialogues and readings for review and are not repeated here.

HSK 2Expressions and idioms
上周
shàng zhōu

English meaning
last week

Examples and usage
上周我刚回到学校，那会儿还没见到你。你是什么时候来的？shàng zhōu wǒ gāng huí dào xué xiào， nà huì er hái méi jiàn dào nǐ。 nǐ shì shén me shí hòu lái de？

I had just returned to school last week and had not seen you then. When did you arrive?

Example translations are drafts and may need context corrections.
上周

Select a character to practice writing.

HSK 2Expressions and idioms
下周
xiàzhōu

English meaning
next week

Examples and usage
写完过去，他们再谈今后。小禾下周想去看朋友，安安把要学习的月份圈在表上，希望以后每个月都有进步。xiě wán guò qù， tā men zài tán jīn hòu。 xiǎo hé xià zhōu xiǎng qù kàn péng yǒu， ān ān bǎ yào xué xí de yuè fèn quān zài biǎo shàng， xī wàng yǐ hòu měi gè yuè dōu yǒu jìn bù。

After the past, they discuss the future. Xiao He plans a visit next week; Anan marks her study months and hopes to improve each month.

Example translations are drafts and may need context corrections.
下周

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HSK 2Time and numbers
月份
yuèfèn

English meaning
month of the year

Examples and usage
写完过去，他们再谈今后。小禾下周想去看朋友，安安把要学习的月份圈在表上，希望以后每个月都有进步。xiě wán guò qù， tā men zài tán jīn hòu。 xiǎo hé xià zhōu xiǎng qù kàn péng yǒu， ān ān bǎ yào xué xí de yuè fèn quān zài biǎo shàng， xī wàng yǐ hòu měi gè yuè dōu yǒu jìn bù。

After the past, they discuss the future. Xiao He plans a visit next week; Anan marks her study months and hopes to improve each month.

Example translations are drafts and may need context corrections.
月份

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HSK 2Time and numbers
前年
qiánnián

English meaning
the year before last

Examples and usage
我刚才才到教室，刚刚和老师说过话。我以前住在别的城市，前年第一次来这里。wǒ gāng cái cái dào jiào shì， gāng gāng hé lǎo shī shuō guò huà。 wǒ yǐ qián zhù zài bié de chéng shì， qián nián dì yī cì lái zhè lǐ。

I only reached the classroom a moment ago and just spoke to the teacher. I used to live elsewhere and first came here the year before last.

Example translations are drafts and may need context corrections.
前年

Select a character to practice writing.

HSK 2Time and numbers
以前
yǐqián

English meaning
before; previously

Examples and usage
我刚才才到教室，刚刚和老师说过话。我以前住在别的城市，前年第一次来这里。wǒ gāng cái cái dào jiào shì， gāng gāng hé lǎo shī shuō guò huà。 wǒ yǐ qián zhù zài bié de chéng shì， qián nián dì yī cì lái zhè lǐ。

I only reached the classroom a moment ago and just spoke to the teacher. I used to live elsewhere and first came here the year before last.

Example translations are drafts and may need context corrections.
以前

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HSK 2Time and numbers
以后
yǐhòu

English meaning
after; in future

Examples and usage
当时我不太会中文，后来交了朋友，就想多学一些。不久以后，我还要参加学校的活动。dāng shí wǒ bù tài huì zhōng wén， hòu lái jiāo le péng yǒu， jiù xiǎng duō xué yī xiē。 bù jiǔ yǐ hòu， wǒ hái yào cān jiā xué xiào de huó dòng。

At the time my Chinese was limited. Later I made friends and wanted to learn more. Soon I will join a school activity too.

Example translations are drafts and may need context corrections.
以后

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HSK 2Time and numbers
过去
guòqù

English meaning
the past

Examples and usage
老师让大家把过去的经历按时间写下来。安安先写前年，再写上周，最后写刚才发生的事情。lǎo shī ràng dà jiā bǎ guò qù de jīng lì àn shí jiān xiě xià lái。 ān ān xiān xiě qián nián， zài xiě shàng zhōu， zuì hòu xiě gāng cái fā shēng de shì qing。

The teacher asks everyone to put past experiences in order. Anan starts with the year before last, then last week and finally what happened just now.

Example translations are drafts and may need context corrections.
过去

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HSK 2Expressions and idioms
今后
jīnhòu

English meaning
from now on

Examples and usage
写完过去，他们再谈今后。小禾下周想去看朋友，安安把要学习的月份圈在表上，希望以后每个月都有进步。xiě wán guò qù， tā men zài tán jīn hòu。 xiǎo hé xià zhōu xiǎng qù kàn péng yǒu， ān ān bǎ yào xué xí de yuè fèn quān zài biǎo shàng， xī wàng yǐ hòu měi gè yuè dōu yǒu jìn bù。

After the past, they discuss the future. Xiao He plans a visit next week; Anan marks her study months and hopes to improve each month.

Example translations are drafts and may need context corrections.
今后

Select a character to practice writing.

HSK 2Expressions and idioms
那会儿
nàhuìr

English meaning
at that time

Examples and usage
上周我刚回到学校，那会儿还没见到你。你是什么时候来的？shàng zhōu wǒ gāng huí dào xué xiào， nà huì er hái méi jiàn dào nǐ。 nǐ shì shén me shí hòu lái de？

I had just returned to school last week and had not seen you then. When did you arrive?

Example translations are drafts and may need context corrections.
那会儿

Select a character to practice writing.

HSK 2Expressions and idioms
那时候
nà shí hou

English meaning
at that time

Examples and usage
我记得你那时候说，只住几个月。后来怎么决定留下了？wǒ jì de nǐ nà shí hou shuō， zhǐ zhù jǐ gè yuè。 hòu lái zěn me jué dìng liú xia le？

I remember you planned to stay only a few months. Why did you later decide to remain?

Example translations are drafts and may need context corrections.
那时候

Select a character to practice writing.

HSK 2Expressions and idioms
当时
dāngshí

English meaning
at the time

Examples and usage
当时我不太会中文，后来交了朋友，就想多学一些。不久以后，我还要参加学校的活动。dāng shí wǒ bù tài huì zhōng wén， hòu lái jiāo le péng yǒu， jiù xiǎng duō xué yī xiē。 bù jiǔ yǐ hòu， wǒ hái yào cān jiā xué xiào de huó dòng。

At the time my Chinese was limited. Later I made friends and wanted to learn more. Soon I will join a school activity too.

Example translations are drafts and may need context corrections.
当时

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HSK 2Expressions and idioms
后来
hòulái

English meaning
later

Examples and usage
我记得你那时候说，只住几个月。后来怎么决定留下了？wǒ jì de nǐ nà shí hou shuō， zhǐ zhù jǐ gè yuè。 hòu lái zěn me jué dìng liú xia le？

I remember you planned to stay only a few months. Why did you later decide to remain?

Example translations are drafts and may need context corrections.
后来

Select a character to practice writing.

HSK 2Expressions and idioms
不久
bùjiǔ

English meaning
before long

Examples and usage
当时我不太会中文，后来交了朋友，就想多学一些。不久以后，我还要参加学校的活动。dāng shí wǒ bù tài huì zhōng wén， hòu lái jiāo le péng yǒu， jiù xiǎng duō xué yī xiē。 bù jiǔ yǐ hòu， wǒ hái yào cān jiā xué xiào de huó dòng。

At the time my Chinese was limited. Later I made friends and wanted to learn more. Soon I will join a school activity too.

Example translations are drafts and may need context corrections.
不久

Select a character to practice writing.

HSK 2Expressions and idioms
刚
gāng

English meaning
just

Examples and usage
上周我刚回到学校，那会儿还没见到你。你是什么时候来的？shàng zhōu wǒ gāng huí dào xué xiào， nà huì er hái méi jiàn dào nǐ。 nǐ shì shén me shí hòu lái de？

I had just returned to school last week and had not seen you then. When did you arrive?

Example translations are drafts and may need context corrections.
刚

Select a character to practice writing.

HSK 2Expressions and idioms
刚刚
gānggāng

English meaning
just now

Examples and usage
我刚才才到教室，刚刚和老师说过话。我以前住在别的城市，前年第一次来这里。wǒ gāng cái cái dào jiào shì， gāng gāng hé lǎo shī shuō guò huà。 wǒ yǐ qián zhù zài bié de chéng shì， qián nián dì yī cì lái zhè lǐ。

I only reached the classroom a moment ago and just spoke to the teacher. I used to live elsewhere and first came here the year before last.

Example translations are drafts and may need context corrections.
刚

Select a character to practice writing.

HSK 2Expressions and idioms
刚才
gāngcái

English meaning
a moment ago

Examples and usage
我刚才才到教室，刚刚和老师说过话。我以前住在别的城市，前年第一次来这里。wǒ gāng cái cái dào jiào shì， gāng gāng hé lǎo shī shuō guò huà。 wǒ yǐ qián zhù zài bié de chéng shì， qián nián dì yī cì lái zhè lǐ。

I only reached the classroom a moment ago and just spoke to the teacher. I used to live elsewhere and first came here the year before last.

Example translations are drafts and may need context corrections.
刚才

Select a character to practice writing.

Original AI-assisted draft · Awaiting teacher review · Exercise progress is not an exam score.