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How to Say ‘What work did you do before?’ in Simplified Chinese

你以前做什么工作？

nǐ yǐ qián zuò shén me gōng zuò

[nee yǐqián zuò shénme gong-dzwaw]

💬 Usage Tip: Chinese has no past-tense verb ending. 以前 alone is what moves this question into the past.

Phrase Breakdown

你以前

nǐ yǐ qián

you, before

以前 (yǐqián) means 'before/previously'. Because 你 and 以 are both 3rd tones, 你 changes to a rising tone: ní yǐqián.

Example

你以前来过吗？

Have you been here before?

Words in this phrase

你

nǐ

[nee]

you

The informal or neutral word for “you,” suitable for peers or casual conversation.

Example

如果对方和你年纪差不多，可以说“认识你”。

If the other person is about your age, you can say “nice to meet you” with 你.

以前

yǐ qián

[yǐqián]

before; prior to

Placed after a time or event to mean 'before' it; alone it can also mean 'in the past'.

Example

请在三点以前到。

Please arrive before three o'clock.

做什么工作？

zuò shén me gōng zuò

what work did you do?

This asks about a job. 什么 (shénme) means 'what'. Stress 工作 (gōngzuò) slightly.

Example

她做什么工作？

What does she do for work?

Words in this phrase

做

zuò

[zuò]

to do

General verb for doing an activity.

Example

你在做什么？

What are you doing?

什么

shén me

[shénme]

what

Question word asking about things.

Example

你想吃什么？

What do you want to eat?

工作

gōng zuò

[gong-dzwaw]

work; job

Refers to employment, tasks, or professional activities.

Example

我很喜欢现在的工作。

I like my current job very much.

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