Chinese word

前任

Pronunciation

Pinyinqián rèn

Meaning

  • nounex

Example

我已经和前任分手了。wǒ yǐ jīng hé qián rèn fēn shǒu le

I've already broken up with my ex.

Illustration for 前任 (ex)

More examples

他经常查看前任的社交媒体。tā jīng cháng chá kàn qián rèn de shè jiāo méi tǐ

He often checks his ex's social media.

Core concept

A former occupant of a role, no longer the person filling that role now.

Common phrases

  • 前任男友qián rèn nán yǒu

    ex-boyfriend

  • 前任女友qián rèn nǘ yǒu

    ex-girlfriend

  • 对前任念念不忘duì qián rèn niàn niàn bú wàng

    can't get over one's ex

Similar words

前爱人qián ài rén: A person once loved romantically but no longer in a romantic relationship with the speaker.
前伴侣qián bàn lǚ: A former partner who once shared a life or relationship with the speaker.
前男友qián nán yǒu: A man who was once the speaker's boyfriend.

Definition in Chinese

曾与自己相恋但已分手的人。céng yǔ zì jǐ xiāng liàn dàn yǐ fēn shǒu de rén

Word origin

前 (qián, "before") + 任 (rèn, "hold a role") forms the idea of an earlier role-holder, which extends naturally from an earlier office-holder to a former romantic partner.

Usage tips

  • English often places former before a specific noun, but this Chinese noun can refer to the earlier person by itself.

Other meanings

  • predecessornoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 前任者qián rèn zhěpredecessornoun

Word lists with this word