HSK · Level 31
135 words
Chinese word
前后
Pronunciation
Pinyinqián hòu
Meaning
- adverbabout
Example
会议有前后二十人参加。huì yì yǒu qián hòu èr shí rén cān jiā
About twenty people attended the meeting.
More examples
他等了我前后十分钟就走了。tā děng le wǒ qián hòu shí fēn zhōng jiù zǒu le
He waited for me for about ten minutes and then left.
Core concept
A central number or time with a small range extending to both sides.
Common phrases
前后十分钟qián hòu shí fēn zhōng
about ten minutes
Similar words
左右zuǒ yòu: Marks an approximate number or time near a given reference point.
大约dà yuē: Refers to an amount or time that is close to an unknown exact figure.
大概dà gài: Presents an amount or time as a generally expected estimate.
差不多chà bu duō: Indicates that a number, amount, or degree is almost equal.
Definition in Chinese
用于表示某一数量或时间的近似值，指实际数目或时刻在该数附近上下波动，作副词常置于数词之后。yòng yú biǎo shì mǒu yí shù liàng huò shí jiān de jìn sì zhí zhǐ shí jì shù mù huò shí kè zài gāi shù fù jìn shàng xià bō dòng zuò fù cí cháng zhì yú shù cí zhī hòu
Word origin
前 (qián, "front") + 后 (hòu, "back") presents the area on both sides of a reference point, which develops into an approximate amount or time.
Usage tips
- Unlike the usual English order, this adverb normally follows the number or time it qualifies, making its position a useful signal that the figure is approximate.
Other meanings
- front and backnoun
Opposites
- 确切地què qiè dìexactlyadverb