Chinese word

面前

Pronunciation

Pinyinmiàn qián

Meaning

  • nounin front of

Example

他站在我面前。tā zhàn zài wǒ miàn qián

He is standing in front of me.

Illustration for 面前 (in front of)

More examples

她把礼物放在朋友面前。tā bǎ lǐ wù fàng zài péng yǒu miàn qián

She put the gift in front of her friend.

Core concept

What is directly before a person, from a physical place to a situation unfolding in that person's presence.

Common phrases

  • 站在面前zhàn zài miàn qián

    stand in front of

  • 坐在面前zuò zài miàn qián

    sit in front of

  • 在面前zài miàn qián

    be in front of

Similar words

前面qián miàn: The part on the front side of a person or thing.
前边qián biān: The place ahead of a person or thing.
对面duì miàn: The position directly across from a person or thing.
旁边páng biān: The position at the side of a person or thing.

Definition in Chinese

指事物处在某人面部或身体的前方位置，也可引申为在某人面前的场景或场合。zhǐ shì wù chǔ zài mǒu rén miàn bù huò shēn tǐ de qián fāng wèi zhì yě kě yǐn shēn wèi zài mǒu rén miàn qián de cháng jǐng huò chǎng hé

Word origin

The compound 面 (miàn, "face") + 前 (qián, "front") names the area ahead of a person's face and then broadens to the setting before that person.

Usage tips

  • The word is useful for noticing viewpoint: the same location changes when the person serving as the reference point changes, even if the physical place stays still.

Opposites

Word lists with this word