前

• 拼音: qián
• 汉字拆解: 前 = 止 (stop/foot, top) + 刂 (knife, right side), originally depicting forward motion

含义

Front; before; ago. Indicates a position in front or a time in the past.

Used both for spatial positioning (in front of) and temporal reference (before, ago). Very common in compounds such as 前边 (in front), 以前 (before/previously), and 前天 (the day before yesterday). Often paired with 后 (behind/after) as opposites.

例句

1. 学校在前面。
2. 请往前走。
3. 前面有一个银行。

用法指南

语境: location, time

语气: neutral

正确说法

• 往前走一百米。(Walk forward a hundred metres.)
• 他坐在我前面。(He sits in front of me.)

错误说法

• 在桌子的前。(Incomplete — say 在桌子前面 or 在桌子前边, adding 面 or 边 after 前)

起源与历史

An ancient character originally combining 止 (foot) and 舟 (boat), suggesting forward movement.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal