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How to Say ‘I used to work at a hotel.’ in Simplified Chinese

我以前在酒店工作。

wǒ yǐ qián zài jiǔ diàn gōng zuò

[wo yǐqián zài jiǔdiàn gong-dzwor]

💬 Usage Tip: 以前 (yǐ qián) "before" is enough to put the whole sentence in the past. The verb 工作 itself never changes. Drop it in front of other verbs the same way: 我以前在北京住 "I used to live in Beijing".

Phrase Breakdown

我以前

wǒ yǐ qián

I previously

以前 means 'before' or 'in the past'. It goes after the subject and before the place or verb.

Example

我以前是学生。

I used to be a student.

Words in this phrase

我

wǒ

[wo]

The speaker referring to themselves.

Example

我明天有空。

I am free tomorrow.

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.

在酒店

zài jiǔ diàn

at a hotel

在 plus a place means 'at' that place. 酒店 means 'hotel'.

Example

我住在酒店。

I'm staying at a hotel.

Words in this phrase

在

zài

[zài]

at; in

Indicates location or place.

Example

他在学校学习。

He studies at school.

酒店

jiǔ diàn

[jiǔdiàn]

hotel

A place to stay overnight; common word for hotels in China.

Example

我的酒店在市中心。

My hotel is downtown.

工作。

gōng zuò

worked

工作 means 'to work' or 'job'. Chinese verbs don't change for past tense, because 以前 already shows the time.

Example

你在哪儿工作？

Where do you work?

Words in this phrase

工作

gōng zuò

[gong-dzwor]

work; job; to work

Can be a noun meaning 'job/work' or a verb meaning 'to work.'

Example

我希望以后有机会一起工作。

I hope we will have the opportunity to work together in the future.

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