前前

qián

HSK 1HSK 1 (Write)Most Common

Basic Meaning

This is the most basic spatial sense. In phrases like 前边, 前方, it refers to a location or direction.

front (noun); the forward-facing part or direction (opposite of 后).

方位词。正面的部分；人或物正面所朝的方向（跟“后”相对）。

Words:

前边前方前门前俯后仰前呼后拥

Antonyms:

Sentences:

我(wǒ)家(jiā)房(fáng)子(zi)前(qián)边(bian)有(yǒu)一(yí)个(ge)小(xiǎo)花(huā)园(yuán)。
There is a small garden in front of my house.
请(qǐng)往(wǎng)前(qián)方(fāng)看(kàn)。
Please look ahead.

An archaic or literary usage. In modern language, this sense is usually seen in idioms like 勇往直前 or compound words like 前进.

to go forward; to advance.

向前行进。

Words:

停滞不前勇往直前前冲前进前迈

Sentences:

在(zài)困(kùn)难(nán)面(miàn)前(qián)，我(wǒ)们(mén)要(yào)勇(yǒng)往(wǎng)直(zhí)前(qián)。
In the face of difficulties, we must advance courageously.
队(duì)伍(wu)停(tíng)滞(zhì)不(bù)前(qián)，因(yīn)为(wèi)路(lù)被(bèi)堵(dǔ)住(zhù)了(le)。
The procession came to a halt and could not advance because the road was blocked.

Used to describe something that existed or was valid before the present. 前夫 (ex-husband), 前身 (predecessor).

former; previous (e.g., referring to a former state, person, or institution).

方位词。从前的（有时指现在改变了名称、身份的机构或人等）。

Words:

前例前人前贤前夫前身

Sentences:

他(tā)是(shì)我(wǒ)的(de)前(qián)同(tóng)事(shì)。
He is my former colleague.
这(zhè)座(zuò)博(bó)物(wù)馆(guǎn)的(de)前(qián)身(shēn)是(shì)一(yí)个(ge)工(gōng)厂(chǎng)。
The predecessor of this museum was a factory.

Prefixed to nouns to indicate a stage before the formal establishment of a discipline or system, e.g., 前科学 (pre-science).

pre-; before (the emergence of something).

方位词。指某事物产生之前的。

Words:

前科学前资本主义

Sentences:

这(zhè)是(shì)一(yí)个(gè)关(guān)于(yú)前(qián)资(zī)本(běn)主(zhǔ)义(shè)社(huì)会(de)的(tǎo)讨(lùn)论
This is a discussion about pre-capitalist society.

Used in terms concerning one's future path or potential, e.g., 前途, 前程. Often carries a positive connotation.

future; prospects (used for looking ahead).

方位词。未来的（用于展望）。

Words:

前程前景前途前程似锦各奔前程

Sentences:

他(tā)年(nián)轻(qīng)有(yǒu)为(wéi)，前(qián)途(tú)光(guāng)明(míng)。
He is young and capable, with a bright future.
这(zhè)个(ge)项(xiàng)目(mù)的(de)前(qián)景(jǐng)看(kàn)起(qǐ)来(lái)很(hěn)乐(lè)观(guān)。
The prospects for this project look very optimistic.

Specifically refers to a military or combat front. The phrase 支前 means "to support the front lines".

front line; battlefront.

前线；前方。

Words:

支前前线前方

Sentences:

士(shì)兵(bīng)们(men)被(bèi)派(pài)往(wǎng)前(qián)线(xiàn)。
The soldiers were sent to the front line.
后(hòu)方(fāng)的(de)人(rén)民(mín)积(jī)极(jí)支(zhī)前(qián)。
The people in the rear actively support the front lines.