Exact meaning of 临+ 时/前

[MengJiaSheng]

I was wondering lately what the exact translation for the use of 临 is. I understand that it expresses the immanent future, something like "at the time when something is about to happen".

But especially when it is used with 时 or 前, I cant really understand the difference between the usages.

他临出门前，。。。。-->I understand the meaning here is "Just before he went out"

他临出门时，。。。。--> But what would the difference be in this sentence?

他临出门，。。。。Can 临be used on its own like it would be here? And what would the difference in meaning be?

他临时出门，。。。How exactly is 临时used if the two characters are put together like here?

Thanks for your help.

[Guoke]

临死

临终

临走

临行

临别

临睡

临考

临产

临 is mostly used before a one-character verb when it functions as a preposition.

临出门时 doesn't sound native to me. I'd say 出门前 instead.

[HashiriKata]

他临时出门，。。。How exactly is 临时used if the two characters are put together like here?

= "He's away at the moment"

临时 can be used as a noun, an adjective or an adverb; and its meaning will change somewhat depending its surrounding and its grammatical function in the sentence.

[xiaocai]

I think 他临出门时 is ok, maybe not as common as 他临出门前, but still acceptable.

I don't often see structures like 他临出门 with 临 standing alone. I can't say that it is totally wrong, but I just feel that unless supported by particular context, it will sound quite strange to me.

[MengJiaSheng]

But what would the difference be between :

临出门前

临出门时

Because to me it seems to be the same. "Just before I went out "

[xiaocai]

They are pretty much the same to me as well.

[HashiriKata]

They are pretty much the same to me as well.

I agree! It's interesting that "临" is defined as "just before something happens" but in practice it's often used to mean "when something happens", eg. 临时

Edited January 7, 2010 at 08:47 AM by HashiriKata

[xiaocai]

It's kind of like when you say I'm leaving you actually mean I'm going to leave, isn't it?

[jbradfor]

Well that depends on which side of the door you are when you say it, now doesn't it?

[creamyhorror]

Hmm, I think of 临 as meaning "coming close to [a certain time or event]". Don't know how it interacts with 前 in 临出门前, but it works well in the other expressions. 临死 = close to death, etc.

[trien27]

临死 = close to death, etc.

should be 临死时. 临死时 = the time [real time, in terms of days, hours, minutes, seconds, etc...] before someone died.

So, what's the meaning of "临死前" or "临生前" if 临死 = "close to death, etc..." ?

临生前 = the moment just before a woman gives birth to a child.

临死前 = the moment just before someone breathes their last breath and passes away.

[trien27]

临出门前: 前 = before, former, etc..., so 临出门前 = the moment before you go out the door.

临出门时: 时 = time, real time = days, hours, minutes, seconds, etc..., so 临出门时 = the actual time you went out.

[trien27]

他临出门前，。。。。-->I understand the meaning here is "Just before he went out"

他临出门时，。。。。--> But what would the difference be in this sentence?

他临出门，。。。。Can 临be used on its own like it would be here? And what would the difference in meaning be?

他临时出门，。。。How exactly is 临时used if the two characters are put together like here?

他临出门前，。。。。--> "Just before he went out"

他临出门时，。。。。--> "Just before the time he went out"

他临出门，。。。。Can 临be used on its own like it would be here? And what would the difference in meaning be? Huh? 临 = just; at the moment, etc...

他临时出门，。。。How exactly is 临时used if the two characters are put together like here? 临时 = same way you use the word "temporarily" in English.