前天

• Pinyin: qián tiān
• Hanzi breakdown: 前 = forward/before; 天 = 一 (one) + 大 (big), representing the sky above a person

Meaning

The day before yesterday. A specific time reference word.

A fixed compound used as a time word, always placed before the verb in a sentence. Part of the sequence: 大前天 (three days ago) → 前天 (the day before yesterday) → 昨天 (yesterday) → 今天 (today) → 明天 (tomorrow) → 后天 (the day after tomorrow).

Examples

1. 前天我去了北京。 I went to Beijing the day before yesterday.
2. 前天下雨了。 It rained the day before yesterday.
3. 他前天买了一本书。 He bought a book the day before yesterday.

Usage Guide

Context: time, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 前天的天气很好。(The weather the day before yesterday was nice.)
• 我前天看了一个电影。(I watched a movie the day before yesterday.)

Don't Say

• 在前天。(Don't add 在 before 前天 — time words like this are used directly: 前天我去了...)

Origin & History

A compound of 前 (before/ago) and 天 (day), literally 'the day before.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal