Difference between 以前and この？

[Floyd]

Hi, could someone please explain the difference between how to use 以前 and この前 when using as 'previously' in some sentence examples. I have searched the internet without any luck. Thankyou.

 

[Mike Cash]

この前 doesn't really mean "previously" so much as it does "recently" and is a more colloquial phrasing. For a phrasing in a similar vein to 以前 but with a meaning like この前 you would have to use something like 最近 or 近頃 (although the latter is probably less colloquial).

At any rate, you're sort of comparing apples and oranges there, as they don't have the same meaning.

 

[Floyd]

Thanks for your help, do you have any example sentences using 以前 ?

 

[Mike Cash]

I don't, but [url=http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/search?query=%E4%BB%A5%E5%89%8D&from=jpn&to=eng]these guys do[/URL]

 

[Toritoribe]

Thanks for your help, do you have any example sentences using 以前 ?

[url]http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/leaf/je2/3265/m0u/以前/[/URL]
http://eow.alc.co.jp/search?q=以前

In addition to Mike-san's explanation, この前（の） can mean "last" as in この前の月曜日 last Monday, この前のクリスマス last Christmas or この前会ったとき the last time we met.

 

[Floyd]

Very helpful, thank you both!

 

[letslearn]

I don't, but [URL='http://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/search?query=%E4%BB%A5%E5%89%8D&from=jpn&to=eng']these guys do[/URL]

Thanks mikesan
That's a great site. I wish I had seen it earlier.