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Korean grammar - Before doing and after doing - 전에 and 후에

Before doing and after doing - 전에 and 후에

The pattern Verb stem + 전에 means 'before' the verb happens.

-- Verb stem + is the normalised form of the verb.

-- Note that generally only the present tense verb normalisation is used with 전에 even though the actions might occur in the past or future.

The pattern Verb stem + () 후에 means 'after' the verb happens.

-- Verb stem + () is the past tense gerund form of the verb.

-- 다음에 can also be used in place of 후에.

The word is often used before and to mean 'just before' or 'just after'.

Examples:
집에서 나가기 전에 방을 치울 거예요.
Before leaving the house (I) will clean my room.
제가 아내와 결혼하기 전에 우리는 이 년 동안 사귀었어요.
Before I married my wife, we went out/dated for two years.
수박을 먹기 직전에 사과를 먹었어요.
Just before (I) ate a watermelon I ate an apple.

직전 means 'just before'

식사하기 전에 항상 손을 씻어요.
(I) always wash my hands before eating.
한국에 오기 직전에 저는 한국어를 배웠어요.
(I) learned Korean just before (I) came to Korea.
경찰관이 오기 직전에 그 사람이 갔어요.
That person left just before the police came.
저는 수업 직전에 숙제를 했어요.
I did my homework just before class.
그는 한국에 가기 전에 한국어를 배울 것입니다.
Before going to Korea he will learn Korean.
밥을 먹은 후에 친구를 만났어요.
After (I) ate, (I) met a friend.
과자를 많이 먹은 후에 배가 아팠어요.
After eating a lot of candy/snacks, (my) stomach was sore.
구두를 신은 다음에 의자에서 일어났어요.
After putting on my boots, (I) got up from the chair.
그 책을 다 읽은 후에 저도 빌려주세요.
Please lend (me) that book after you have finished reading it.
방을 치운 다음에 밖에 나갔어요.
After cleaning up (my) room, (I) went outside.
숙제가 끝난 직후에 저는 집에 갈 거예요.
Right after (my) homework is finished, I will go home.

직후 means 'just after'

집에 도착한 후, 저는 샤워를 할 거예요.
After (I) arrive home, I will take a shower.

It is not uncommon to drop the and just use

오늘 아침에 집을 나서기 전에 밥을 먹지 않았기 때문에 매우 배가 고파요.
This morning, because (I) didn't eat before (I) left home, (I) am very hungry.

나서다 means 'to come out' or 'to leave'