面前

• Pinyin: miàn qián
• Hanzi breakdown: 面 (miàn) — face; 前 (qián) — front, before

Meaning

In front of; before; in the presence of. Indicates the space directly before a person or thing.

Used both physically (standing in front of something) and figuratively (in the face of a challenge, in someone's presence). Often appears with 在…面前 pattern. More formal than 前面 and often implies a sense of confrontation or being face-to-face.

Examples

1. 他站在老师面前不敢说话。 He stood in front of the teacher and didn't dare to speak.
2. 困难面前，我们不能放弃。 In the face of difficulty, we must not give up.
3. 不要在孩子面前吵架。 Don't argue in front of the children.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, formal situations

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 在大家面前说话，我有点紧张。(I'm a bit nervous speaking in front of everyone.)
• 机会就在你面前。(The opportunity is right in front of you.)

Don't Say

• 不要混淆'面前'和'前面' (面前 means 'in the presence of' and is often figurative; 前面 simply means 'ahead/in front' as a location)

Origin & History

Compound of 面 (face) and 前 (front, before). Literally 'in front of one's face', emphasising direct presence or confrontation.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal