qián

front; before; forward

Character data

HSK 1
Frequency 93rd character
Radical ⼑ (18.7)
Strokes 9
Index # 1650

Definitions

前 qián
  1. 1. front
  2. 2. before
  3. 3. forward
  4. 4. ahead
  5. 5. first
  6. 6. ago
  7. 7. top (followed by a number)
  8. 8. former
  9. 9. formerly
  10. 10. future
  11. 11. BC (e.g. 前293nián)

Stroke order

前 stroke order diagram
前 stroke order animation

Words containing 前

Word Meaning
a forward (sports); front line; vanguard
front of the stage
to advance bravely
eve; the day before
prostate
not long ago; not long before
to have boundless prospects
early stage; preceding period
the former
previously; before this; before then
front yard; front courtyard
to waste all one's previous efforts (idiom)
frontier (of science, technology etc); front-line
prenatal; antenatal
never seen before; unprecedented
right in front of one's eyes; right under one's nose
previous incarnation (Buddhism); previous generations
advanced; to take the lead; to be ahead of the pack
first part (of an event); previous paragraph
stuck and not moving forward (idiom); stagnant
omen; first sign; prior indication
(fig.) front line; outpost
forearm
a few days ago; the other day
lobby (of a hotel etc); vestibule; anteroom