先前

• 拼音: xiān qián
• 汉字拆解: 先 = 土 (earth) + 儿 (legs), depicting someone walking ahead; 前 = 止 (foot) + 刀 (knife) + 月 (flesh), originally meaning to advance

含义

Previously; earlier; before. Refers to a time before the present moment or before a particular event.

A formal way to indicate past time, more literary than 以前 or 之前. Often used in written language or when recounting events with a slightly formal tone. Can function as both an adverb and a noun.

例句

1. 先前我们讨论过这个问题，但没有达成共识。
2. 他先前在那家公司工作了十年。
3. 先前的计划已经被取消了，我们需要重新安排。

用法指南

语境: written, narrative

语气: neutral

正确说法

• 先前的经验对我帮助很大。(My previous experience helped me a lot.)
• 这和先前说的不一样。(This is different from what was said before.)

错误说法

• 先前天我去了北京 (Don't confuse with 前天 meaning the day before yesterday — use 之前 or 以前 with specific time references)

起源与历史

Compound of 先 (first, before) and 前 (front, ahead), both reinforcing the concept of anteriority.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal