之前
zhīqián · HSK 4
before
⬅️ 之前 = 之 (zhī, classical 'this/of') + 前 (qián, front/before)
之 is a classical particle linking words, 前 means 'front' or 'earlier'. Together 之前 literally reads as 'of-before', i.e. prior to a point in time. Often follows a time or event: 三点之前 = before 3 o'clock.
之 — foot 止 above ground line 一
Originally a pictograph of a foot (止) stepping forward from a baseline, meaning 'to go' or 'to proceed'. Over time the concrete 'going' sense faded, and 之 was borrowed as a grammatical particle marking possession ('of') or as a pronoun ('it'), which became its dominant use in Classical Chinese.
前 — top 丷 + 一 + 月 (moon) + 刂 (knife)
Originally written 歬, depicting a foot 止 above a boat 舟, meaning to advance or go forward. Over time the form evolved and the knife radical 刂 was added, while 止 and 舟 fused into the modern shape. The core meaning 'front, before, ahead' has stayed consistent.