Chinese word

前

Pronunciation

Pinyinqián

Meaning

  • nounfront

Example

请把椅子放到前面。qǐng bǎ yǐ zi fàng dào qián miàn

Please put the chair in front.

Illustration for 前 (front)

More examples

他站在队伍的前面。tā zhàn zài duì wǔ de qián miàn

He is standing at the front of the line.

Core concept

The leading position in a line of space or events, with later or more distant things behind it.

Common phrases

  • 前面qián miàn

    front

  • 前方qián fāng

    front

Similar words

之前zhī qián: The period before a specific time or event mentioned in context.
以前yǐ qián: A past time or earlier condition, usually viewed from the present.

Definition in Chinese

表示时间上早于某一时刻或事件，在口语中常与量词或时间段连用表示过去的某一时点；也可表示空间的前方。biǎo shì shí jiān shàng zǎo yú mǒu yì shí kè huò shì jiàn zài kóu yǔ zhōng cháng yǔ liàng cí huò shí jiān duàn lián yòng biǎo shì guò qù de mǒu yì shí diǎn yě kě biǎo shì kōng jiān de qián fāng

Word origin

The older character for 前 (qián, "front; before") is linked to the idea of moving forward, which develops into being ahead in space and earlier in time.

Usage tips

  • After a number or time measure, this word points backward from a reference point, so "three days before" depends on the date or event set by the context.

Other meanings

  • beforeadverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word