之前

之前我住在南京。

zhīqián wǒ zhùzài nánjīng.

Before, I lived in Nanjing.

我们在会议开始之前讨论了这个问题。

wǒmen zài huìyì kāishǐ zhīqián tǎolùn le zhège wèntí.

We discussed this issue before the meeting started.