前

前	U+524D, 前 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-524D

More information Stroke order ...

Stroke order

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Han character

前 (Kangxi radical 18, 刀+7, 9 strokes, cangjie input 廿月中弓 (TBLN), four-corner 8022₁, composition ⿱䒑刖)

Derived characters

偂, 𰄄, 𠷁, 媊, 㡐, 𭚿, 𰑹, 揃, 湔, 椾, 㷙, 瑐, 𫆨, 𰧏, 糋, 𦂒, 𬠝, 𧪈, 鎆, 𩋳, 騚(𩨊), 𠠩
𦑦, 葥, 箭, 鬋, 剪, 𡍽, 𪥗, 𢃬, 㮍, 𣹅, 𤋎, 煎, 𠞽, 翦, 𧛯, 𭶊

References

Kangxi Dictionary: page 140, character 15
Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 2011
Dae Jaweon: page 318, character 6
Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 248, character 4
Unihan data for U+524D

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Glyph origin

More information Historical forms of the character 前, Western Zhou ...

Historical forms of the character 前
Western Zhou	Warring States		Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Qin slip script	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

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More information Old Chinese ...

	Old Chinese
媊	ʔslel, ʔslenʔ
煎	ʔslen, ʔslens
湔	ʔslen, ʔslens, ʔsleːn, zleːn
鬋	ʔslen, ʔslenʔ, *ʔslens
剪	*ʔslenʔ
翦	*ʔslenʔ
譾	*ʔslenʔ
揃	*ʔslenʔ
箭	*ʔslens
葥	*ʔslens
前	*zleːn
騚	*zleːn
歬	*zleːn

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Characters in the same phonetic series (前) (Zhengzhang, 2003)

Originally 歬, an ideogrammic compound (會意 / 会意) : 止 (“foot”) + 舟 (“boat”) – a foot on a boat moving forward. Alternatively, 舟 represents a shoe (cf. Shuowen 履: 舟象履形) — a foot with a shoe on to walk forward.

In the current form, 止 is simplified to 䒑 and 舟 to 月. The current form with an additional 刀 (“knife”) (𠝣 > 𣦃 > 前) is the original form of 剪 (OC *ʔslenʔ, “to cut”).

Unrelated to 俞.

Etymology 1

More information trad., simp. # ...

trad.		前
simp. ^#		前
alternative forms		偂歬𠝣𣥑𣦃

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Unknown (Schuessler, 2007).

Pronunciation

More information Variety, Location ...

Variety	Location	edit 前
Mandarin	Beijing	/t͡ɕʰian³⁵/
	Harbin	/t͡ɕʰian²⁴/ ～天 /t͡ɕʰian²¹³/ 跟～兒
	Tianjin	/t͡ɕʰian⁴⁵/
	Jinan	/t͡ɕʰiã⁴²/
	Qingdao	/t͡sʰiã⁴²/
	Zhengzhou	/t͡sʰian⁴²/
	Xi'an	/t͡ɕʰiã²⁴/
	Xining	/t͡ɕʰiã²⁴/
	Yinchuan	/t͡ɕʰian⁵³/
	Lanzhou	/t͡ɕʰiɛ̃n⁵³/
	Ürümqi	/t͡ɕʰian⁵¹/
	Wuhan	/t͡ɕʰiɛn²¹³/
	Chengdu	/t͡ɕʰian³¹/
	Guiyang	/t͡ɕʰian²¹/
	Kunming	/t͡ɕʰiɛ̃³¹/
	Nanjing	/t͡sʰien²⁴/
	Hefei	/t͡ɕʰiĩ⁵⁵/
Jin	Taiyuan	/t͡ɕʰie¹¹/
	Pingyao	/t͡ɕʰie̞¹³/ /t͡ɕie̞¹³/
	Hohhot	/t͡ɕʰie³¹/
Wu	Shanghai	/ʑi²³/
	Suzhou	/ziɪ¹³/
	Hangzhou	/d͡ʑd͡ʑiẽ̞²¹³/
	Wenzhou	/ji³¹/
Hui	Shexian	/t͡sʰe⁴⁴/
Hui	Tunxi	/t͡sʰiɛ⁴⁴/
Xiang	Changsha	/t͡siẽ¹³/
Xiang	Xiangtan	/d͡ziẽ¹²/
Gan	Nanchang	/t͡ɕʰiɛn²⁴/
Hakka	Meixian	/t͡sʰien¹¹/
Hakka	Taoyuan	/t͡sʰien¹¹/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/t͡sʰin²¹/
	Nanning	/t͡sʰin²¹/
	Hong Kong	/t͡sʰin²¹/
Min	Xiamen (Hokkien)	/t͡sian³⁵/ /t͡siŋ³⁵/
	Fuzhou (Eastern Min)	/t͡sieŋ⁵³/
	Jian'ou (Northern Min)	/t͡sʰiŋ³³/
	Shantou (Teochew)	/t͡sõi⁵⁵/
	Haikou (Hainanese)	/sin³¹/ /tai³¹/ /tun³¹/

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More information Rime, Character ...

Rime
Character	前
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	從 (15)
Final (韻)	先 (85)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	IV
Fanqie	昨先切
Baxter	dzen
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/d͡zen/
Pan Wuyun	/d͡zen/
Shao Rongfen	/d͡zɛn/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/d͡zɛn/
Li Rong	/d͡zen/
Wang Li	/d͡zien/
Bernhard Karlgren	/d͡zʱien/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	qián
Expected Cantonese Reflex	cin⁴

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More information Character, Reading # ...

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	前
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	qián
Middle Chinese	‹ dzen ›
Old Chinese	/[dz]ˁen/ (~ m-dzˁen)
English	before
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. [t] as coda may in fact be -t or -p; Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

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More information Zhengzhang system (2003), Character ...

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	前
Reading #	1/1
No.	10256
Phonetic component	前
Rime group	元
Rime subdivision	2
Corresponding MC rime	前
Old Chinese	/*zleːn/

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Mandarin
(Standard)
(Pinyin): qián (qian²)

(Zhuyin): ㄑㄧㄢˊ

(Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): qian²

(Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): чян (či͡an, I)
Cantonese
(Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): cin⁴

(Taishan, Wiktionary): ten³
Gan (Wiktionary): qien²
Hakka
(Sixian, PFS): chhièn

(Hailu, HRS): cien

(Meixian, Guangdong): qiên²
Jin (Wiktionary): qie¹
Northern Min (KCR): chîng
Eastern Min (BUC): sèng / cièng
Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): se² / siⁿ² / zeng²
Southern Min
(Hokkien, POJ): chêng / chûiⁿ / châiⁿ / chiân / chûn / chân

(Teochew, Peng'im): zoin⁵ / zain⁵
Wu (Northern, Wugniu): ⁶zhi / ²zie
Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): zienn²

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: qián
  - Zhuyin: ㄑㄧㄢˊ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: cián
  - Wade–Giles: chʻien²
  - Yale: chyán
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: chyan
  - Palladius: цянь (cjanʹ)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/
- (Chengdu)
  - Sichuanese Pinyin: qian²
  - Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: kian
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕʰiɛn²¹/
- (Dungan)
  - Cyrillic and Wiktionary: чян (či͡an, I)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕʰiæ̃²⁴/
  (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
  - Jyutping: cin⁴
  - Yale: chìhn
  - Cantonese Pinyin: tsin⁴
  - Guangdong Romanization: qin⁴
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sʰiːn²¹/
- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
  - Wiktionary: ten³
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰen²²/
Gan
- (Nanchang)
  - Wiktionary: qien²
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕʰiɛn²⁴/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: chhièn
  - Hakka Romanization System: qien^ˇ
  - Hagfa Pinyim: qian²
  - Sinological IPA: /t͡sʰi̯en¹¹/
- (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
  - Hakka Romanization System: cien
  - Sinological IPA: /t͡sʰien⁵⁵/
- (Meixian)
  - Guangdong: qiên²
  - Sinological IPA: /t͡sʰiɛn¹¹/
Jin
- (Taiyuan)⁺
  - Wiktionary: qie¹
  - Sinological IPA (old-style): /t͡ɕʰie¹¹/
Northern Min
- (Jian'ou)
  - Kienning Colloquial Romanized: chîng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sʰiŋ³³/
Eastern Min
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: sèng / cièng
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /sɛiŋ⁵³/, /t͡sieŋ⁵³/

Note:

sèng - vernacular;
cièng - literary.

Puxian Min
- (Putian)
  - Pouseng Ping'ing: se²
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɬe¹³/
- (Xianyou)
  - Pouseng Ping'ing: siⁿ²
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɬĩ¹³/
- (Putian, Xianyou)
  - Pouseng Ping'ing: zeng²
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sɛŋ¹³/

Note:

se2/siⁿ2 - vernacular;
zeng2 - literary.

Southern Min
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese, Singapore)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chêng
  - Tâi-lô: tsîng
  - Phofsit Daibuun: zeeng
  - IPA (Xiamen, Taipei): /t͡siɪŋ²⁴/
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /t͡siɪŋ²³/
  - IPA (Singapore): /t͡seŋ²⁴/
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /t͡siɪŋ¹³/
- (Hokkien: Quanzhou, Jinjiang)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chûiⁿ
  - Tâi-lô: tsuînn
  - Phofsit Daibuun: zvuii
  - IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang): /t͡suĩ²⁴/
- (Hokkien: Tong'an, Kinmen)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: châiⁿ
  - Tâi-lô: tsâinn
  - Phofsit Daibuun: zvaai
  - IPA (Tong'an, Kinmen): /t͡sãi²⁴/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chiân
  - Tâi-lô: tsiân
  - Phofsit Daibuun: cieen
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /t͡siɛn²³/
  - IPA (Xiamen, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Taipei): /t͡siɛn²⁴/
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /t͡siɛn¹³/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chûn
  - Tâi-lô: tsûn
  - Phofsit Daibuun: zuun
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /t͡sun²³/
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /t͡sun¹³/
  - IPA (Xiamen, Quanzhou, Taipei): /t͡sun²⁴/
- (Hokkien: Zhangzhou)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chân
  - Tâi-lô: tsân
  - Phofsit Daibuun: zaan
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /t͡san¹³/

Note:

chêng/chûiⁿ/châiⁿ - vernacular;
chiân - literary;
chûn - vernacular (limited, e.g. 前年 (qiánnián));
chân - vernacular (limited).

- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: zoin⁵ / zain⁵
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: tsôiⁿ / tsâiⁿ
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sõĩ⁵⁵/, /t͡sãĩ⁵⁵/

Note:

zoin5 - Chaozhou, Shantou;
zain5 - Jieyang, Chaoyang, Puning, Huilai.

Wu
- (Northern: Shanghai)
  - Wugniu: ⁶zhi
  - MiniDict: zhi^去
  - Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³xxi
  - Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /ʑi²³/
- (Northern: Suzhou)
  - Wugniu: ²zie
  - MiniDict: zie^平
  - Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /zɪ²²³/
Xiang
- (Changsha)
  - Wiktionary: zienn²
  - Sinological IPA ^(key) (old-style): /t͡si̯ẽ¹³/
  - Sinological IPA ^(key) (new-style): /t͡ɕi̯ẽ¹³/

Dialectal data

Middle Chinese: dzen

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*[dz]ˤen/

(Zhengzhang): /*zleːn/

Definitions

前

front; forepart
前方 ― qiánfāng ― the front

前門／前门 ― qiánmén ― front door

往前走 ― wǎng qián zǒu ― to move forward

房子前有一棵樹。 [MSC, trad.]
房子前有一棵树。 [MSC, simp.]
Fángzi qián yǒu yī kē shù. [Pinyin]
There is a tree in front of the house.

Antonym: 後 / 后 (hòu)
- 司馬喜難墨者師於中山王前以非攻。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  司马喜难墨者师于中山王前以非攻。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: Lü Buwei, Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals, 239 BCE
  Sīmǎ Xǐ nàn Mòzhě Shī yú Zhōngshānwáng qián yǐ Fēigōng. [Pinyin]
  Sima Xi reproaches Shi the Mohist (or "a Mohist master") on the merit of "non-belligerence" before (lit., in front of) the King of Zhongshan.
ago; before
以前 ― yǐqián ― previously; ago

前幾天／前几天 ― qián jǐ tiān ― the other day

史前時代／史前时代 ― shǐqián shídài ― prehistoric times

我習慣吃飯前先喝湯。 [MSC, trad.]
我习惯吃饭前先喝汤。 [MSC, simp.]
Wǒ xíguàn chīfàn qián xiān hētāng. [Pinyin]
I'm used to having soup before my meal.
- 現在壓迫子女的，有時也就是十年前的家庭革命者。 [MSC, trad.]
  现在压迫子女的，有时也就是十年前的家庭革命者。 [MSC, simp.]
  From: 1924, Lu Xun (魯迅), What happens to Nora after she leaves? (《娜拉走後怎樣》)
  Xiànzài yāpò zǐnǚ de, yǒushí yě jiùshì shíniánqián de jiātíng gémìngzhě. [Pinyin]
  Some of the current oppressors of children are precisely the revolutionaries of family life from ten years ago.
past; previous; former; earlier
前任 ― qiánrèn ― predecessor

前副總統／前副总统 ― qián fùzǒngtǒng ― ex-vice president

前功盡棄／前功尽弃 ― qiángōngjìnqì ― all the previous effort is wasted

前漢／前汉 ― qiánhàn ― the Former (Western) Han
- 二三子！偃之言是也。前言戲之耳。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  二三子！偃之言是也。前言戏之耳。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
  Èrsānzǐ! Yǎn zhī yán shì yě. Qián yán xìzhī ěr. [Pinyin]
  My disciples, Yan's words are right. What I said (just now) was only in sport.
- 前事之不忘，後事之師也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  前事之不忘，后事之师也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
  Qián shì zhī bùwàng, hòu shì zhī shī yě. [Pinyin]
  To not forget the past events is to inform the future.
top; foremost; leading
前三名 ― qián sān míng ― top three
future; time ahead
前程 ― qiánchéng ― future; prospects
to move forward
勇往直前 ― yǒngwǎngzhíqián ― to advance bravely
- 高祖醉，曰：「壯士行，何畏！」乃前，拔劍擊斬蛇。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  高祖醉，曰：「壮士行，何畏！」乃前，拔剑击斩蛇。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
  Gāozǔ zuì, yuē: “Zhuàngshì xíng, hé wèi!” Nǎi qián, bá jiàn jī zhǎn shé. [Pinyin]
  Emperor Gaozu, under the influence of alcohol, exclaimed "We are a band of heroes on the march. Fear not!" With these words, he went forward, unsheathed his sword, and decapitated the serpent with a stroke.
- 齊宣王見顏斶，曰：「斶前！」斶亦曰：「王前！」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
  齐宣王见颜斶，曰：「斶前！」斶亦曰：「王前！」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
  From: Zhanguo Ce, circa 5^th – 3^rd centuries BCE
  Qí Xuānwáng jiàn Yán Chù, yuē: “Chù qián!” Chù yì yuē: “Wáng qián!” [Pinyin]
  King Xuan of Qi, giving Yan Chu an audience, called on him to come forward. Chu in response also called on the King to step forth.
a surname

Usage notes

前 (qián) may refer to either the past or the future depending on one's perspective that is often implied by the context idiomatically. The set phrase 前天 (qiántiān) specifically refers to the day before yesterday.

Compounds

一往無前 / 一往无前 (yīwǎngwúqián)
一往直前 (yīwǎngzhíqián)
一雪前恥 / 一雪前耻 (yīxuěqiánchǐ)
上前 (shàngqián)
不顧前後 / 不顾前后
並肩前進 / 并肩前进
之前 (zhīqián)
事前 (shìqián)
人前人後 / 人前人后
以前 (yǐqián)
佛前佛後 / 佛前佛后
倒前倒後 / 倒前倒后
停滯不前 / 停滞不前 (tíngzhìbùqián)
先前 (xiānqián)
光前絕後 / 光前绝后
光前耀後 / 光前耀后
光前裕後 / 光前裕后
冰前颳雪 / 冰前刮雪
前七子
前世 (qiánshì)
前世姻緣 / 前世姻缘
前事 (qiánshì)
前井 (Qiánjǐng)
前人 (qiánrén)
前仇
前仆後繼 / 前仆后继 (qiánpūhòujì)
前仆後起
前代 (qiándài)
前任 (qiánrèn)
前仰後合 / 前仰后合
前來 / 前来 (qiánlái)
前例 (qiánlì)
前修
前俯後仰 / 前俯后仰
前倨後卑 / 前倨后卑
前倨後恭 / 前倨后恭 (qiánjùhòugōng)
前元音
前兆 (qiánzhào)
前兒 / 前儿 (qiánr)
前兒個 / 前儿个 (qiánrge)
前出後空 / 前出后空
前列 (qiánliè)
前列腺 (qiánlièxiàn)
前前後後 / 前前后后
前功 (qiángōng)
前功皆棄 / 前功皆弃
前功盡廢 / 前功尽废 (qiángōngjìnfèi)
前功盡棄 / 前功尽弃 (qiángōngjìnqì)
前功盡滅 / 前功尽灭
前半晌 (qiánbànshǎng)
前卻 / 前却
前去 (qiánqù)
前合後仰 / 前合后仰
前合後偃 / 前合后偃
前和
前呼後應 / 前呼后应
前呼後擁 / 前呼后拥 (qiánhūhòuyǒng)
前哨 (qiánshào)
前哨戰 / 前哨战
前回
前因 (qiányīn)
前因後果 / 前因后果 (qiányīnhòuguǒ)
前坂 (Qiánbǎn)
前塵 / 前尘 (qiánchén)
前塵往事 / 前尘往事 (qiánchénwǎngshì)
前夕 (qiánxī)
前夜 (qiányè)
前夫 (qiánfū)
前天 (qiántiān)
前失 (qiánshī)
前奏 (qiánzòu)
前奏曲
前妻 (qiánqī)
前婚後嫁 / 前婚后嫁
前嫌 (qiánxián)
前家兒 / 前家儿
前家後繼 / 前家后继
前導 / 前导
前崗 / 前岗 (Qiángǎng)
前席
前年 (qiánnián)
前度劉郎 / 前度刘郎 (qiándùliúláng)
前庭 (qiántíng)
前廳 / 前厅 (qiántīng)
前往 (qiánwǎng)
前後 / 前后 (qiánhòu)
前後腳兒 / 前后脚儿 (qiánhòujiǎor)
前徽
前志 (qiánzhì)
前思後想 / 前思后想
前情 (qiánqíng)
前愆
前意識 / 前意识 (qiányìshí)
前戲 / 前戏 (qiánxì)
前所未有 (qiánsuǒwèiyǒu)
前所未聞 / 前所未闻
前所未見 / 前所未见 (qiánsuǒwèijiàn)
前手
前挺
前推後擁 / 前推后拥
前提 (qiántí)
前方 (qiánfāng)
前日 (qiánrì)
前晌 (qiánshǎng)
前晚 (qiánwǎn)
前景 (qiánjǐng)
前月
前朝
前期 (qiánqī)
前業 / 前业
前歌後舞 / 前歌后舞
前此
前母
前泊
前涼 / 前凉 (Qiánliáng)
前漢 / 前汉 (Qiánhàn)
前灣 / 前湾 (Qiánwān)
前烈
前無古人 / 前无古人 (qiánwúgǔrén)
前理解
前生 (qiánshēng)
前番 (qiánfān)
前瞻性 (qiánzhānxìng)
前知
前矩
前科 (qiánkē)
前科犯 (qiánkēfàn)
前秦 (Qián Qín)
前程 (qiánchéng)
前程似錦 / 前程似锦 (qiánchéngsìjǐn)
前程萬里
前程遠大 / 前程远大
前空翻 (qiánkōngfān)
前站
前端 (qiánduān)
前箸
前緒 / 前绪
前綴 / 前缀 (qiánzhuì)
前緣 / 前缘
前線 / 前线 (qiánxiàn)
前置作業 / 前置作业
前置詞 / 前置词 (qiánzhìcí)
前翅
前者 (qiánzhě)
前肢
前腳 / 前脚
前膛
前臂 (qiánbì)
前臺 / 前台 (qiántái)
前茅
前藥 / 前药 (qiányào)
前行 (qiánxíng)
前街後巷 / 前街后巷
前衛 / 前卫 (qiánwèi)
前襟 (qiánjīn)
前親晚後 / 前亲晚后
前言 (qiányán)
前設 / 前设
前賢 / 前贤 (qiánxián)
前赴後繼 / 前赴后继 (qiánfùhòujì)
前趙 / 前赵 (Qiánzhào)
前路 (qiánlù)
前身 (qiánshēn)
前車之鑑 / 前车之鉴
前車之鑒 / 前车之鉴
前車可鑒 / 前车可鉴
前載 / 前载
前輩 / 前辈 (qiánbèi)
前述 (qiánshù)
前途 (qiántú)
前途似錦 / 前途似锦
前途未卜
前途無量 / 前途无量 (qiántúwúliàng)
前進 / 前进 (qiánjìn)
前進色 / 前进色
前進防衛 / 前进防卫
前遮後擁 / 前遮后拥 (qiánzhēhòuyōng)
前邊 / 前边
前金 (Qiánjīn)
前銜 / 前衔
前鋒 / 前锋 (qiánfēng)
前鋸肌 / 前锯肌 (qiánjùjī)
前鎮 / 前镇 (Qiánzhèn)
前長後短 / 前长后短
前門 / 前门 (qiánmén)
前面 (qiánmiàn)
前項 / 前项
前頭 / 前头 (qiántou)
前頭人 / 前头人
前額 / 前额 (qián'é)
前馬 / 前马
前驅 / 前驱 (qiánqū)
勇往直前 (yǒngwǎngzhíqián)
勇猛直前
匍匐前進 / 匍匐前进
午前 (wǔqián)
參前落後 / 参前落后
史前史 (shǐqiánshǐ)
史前時代 / 史前时代 (shǐqián shídài)
史無前例 / 史无前例 (shǐwúqiánlì)
名列前茅 (mínglièqiánmáo)
向前 (xiàngqián)
各奔前程
吃眼前虧 / 吃眼前亏
城前 (Chéngqián)
垓前
堂前
大不如前 (dàbùrúqián)
大前天 (dàqiántiān)
大前年 (dàqiánnián)
大前提 (dàqiántí)
大敵當前 / 大敌当前 (dàdídāngqián)
學前教育 / 学前教育 (xuéqián jiàoyù)
專美於前 / 专美于前
尊前
尊前集
小前提 (xiǎoqiántí)
左右前後 / 左右前后
巴前算後 / 巴前算后
幕前
座前
廟前 / 庙前 (Miàoqián)
往前 (wǎngqián)
後仰前合 / 后仰前合
後合前仰 / 后合前仰
後巷前街 / 后巷前街
後恭前倨 / 后恭前倨
後擁前呼 / 后拥前呼
後擁前推 / 后拥前推
後擁前遮 / 后拥前遮
後擁前驅 / 后拥前驱
後果前因 / 后果前因 (hòuguǒqiányīn)
從前 / 从前 (cóngqián)
御前 (yùqián)
復蹈前轍 / 复蹈前辙
忌前
忖前思後 / 忖前思后
思前想後 / 思前想后 (sīqiánxiǎnghòu)
思前算後 / 思前算后
意前筆後 / 意前笔后
想前顧後 / 想前顾后
意在筆前 / 意在笔前
懲前毖後 / 惩前毖后 (chéngqiánbìhòu)
所向無前 / 所向无前
打個前失 / 打个前失
打前劉海 / 打前刘海
打前失
打前站 (dǎqiánzhàn)
承前
承前啟後 / 承前启后 (chéngqiánqǐhòu)
捐前程
提前 (tíqián)
搶前 / 抢前
擺在眼前 / 摆在眼前
攔前斷後 / 拦前断后
方丈盈前
日前 (rìqián)
明前
昨前
星前月下
月下花前
月下風前 / 月下风前
水車前 / 水车前
沒前程 / 没前程
湔雪前恥 / 湔雪前耻 (jiānxuěqiánchǐ)
澳前 (Àoqián)
火前
照前
營前 / 营前 (Yíngqián)
現前 / 现前
生前 (shēngqián)
產前檢查 / 产前检查
畏縮不前 / 畏缩不前 (wèisuōbùqián)
畏葸不前 (wèixǐbùqián)
當前 / 当前 (dāngqián)
痛悔前非
痛改前非 (tònggǎiqiánfēi)
痛滌前非 / 痛涤前非
白前 (báiqián)
盛況空前 / 盛况空前
盧前 / 卢前
目前 (mùqián)
目前目後 / 目前目后
眼前 (yǎnqián)
眼前歡 / 眼前欢
眼前花
眼前花發 / 眼前花发
瞻前忽後 / 瞻前忽后
瞻前顧後 / 瞻前顾后 (zhānqiángùhòu)
禍在目前 / 祸在目前 (huò zài mùqián)
空前 (kōngqián)
空前未有 (kōngqiánwèiyǒu)
空前盛況 / 空前盛况
空前絕後 / 空前绝后 (kōngqiánjuéhòu)
絕後光前 / 绝后光前
老前輩 / 老前辈
耕前耡後 / 耕前锄后
職前教育 / 职前教育
職前訓練 / 职前训练
背前背後 / 背前背后
舌尖前音 (shéjiānqiányīn)
舌面前音
花前月下
行前 (xíngqián)
裹足不前 (guǒzúbùqián)
褪前擦後 / 褪前擦后
見前 / 见前
護前 / 护前
超前絕後 / 超前绝后
趑趄不前
趨前退後 / 趋前退后
跋前疐後 / 跋前疐后 (báqiánzhìhòu)
跋前躓後 / 跋前踬后 (báqiánzhìhòu)
跟前
跟前人
車前 / 车前
車在馬前 / 车在马前
近前 (jìnqián)
近在眼前
退前縮後 / 退前缩后
進前 / 进前 (jìnqián)
遮前掩後 / 遮前掩后
郭前 (Guōqián)
錦片前程 / 锦片前程 (jǐnpiànqiánchéng)
錦繡前程 / 锦绣前程 (jǐnxiùqiánchéng)
門前 / 门前 (ménqián)
門前清 / 门前清 (ménqiánqīng)
院前 (Yuànqián)
雨前茶 (yǔqiánchá)
面前 (miànqián)
頓悟前非 / 顿悟前非
頭前 / 头前 (thâu-chêng) (Min Nan)
顧前顧後 / 顾前顾后
顧後瞻前 / 顾后瞻前
風前之燭 / 风前之烛
風前月下 / 风前月下
食前方丈
飯前酒 / 饭前酒
馬前健 / 马前健
馬前卒 / 马前卒 (mǎqiánzú)
馬前數 / 马前数
馬前潑水 / 马前泼水
馬前課 / 马前课
馬失前蹄 / 马失前蹄 (mǎshīqiántí)
驢前馬後 / 驴前马后

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (前):

→ Japanese: 前(ぜん) (zen)
→ Korean: 전(前) (jeon)
→ Vietnamese: tiền (前)

Etymology 2

For pronunciation and definitions of 前 – see 剪 (“to cut”). (This character is an ancient form of 剪).

References

“前”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
Dictionary of Chinese Character Variants (教育部異體字字典), A00355
“Entry #4715”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwanese Taigi] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2025.

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Shinjitai	前
Kyūjitai ^[1]^[2]	前󠄁 前+`󠄁`^? (Adobe-Japan1)
	前󠄃 前+`󠄃`^? (Hanyo-Denshi) (Moji_Joho)
The displayed kanji may be different from the image due to your environment. See here for details.

Kanji

前

(Second grade kyōiku kanji)

in front
before

Readings

Go-on: ぜん (zen, Jōyō)
Kan-on: せん (sen)
Kun: まえ (mae, 前, Jōyō)^{←まへ (mafe, 前, historical)}、さき (saki, 前)、すすむ (susumu, 前む)
Nanori: くま (kuma)、さき (saki)、さと (sato)、すすむ (susumu)、ちか (chika)、まい (mai)

Compounds

前(ぜん)戯(ぎ) (zengi, “foreplay”)

Etymology 1

More information Kanji in this term ...

Kanji in this term
前
まえ Grade: 2
kun'yomi

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From Old Japanese as a compound of 目 (ma, “eye”) +‎ 方 (pe₁, “direction, -wards”).^[3]^[4] Ultimately from Proto-Japonic *mapia.

/mape₁/ → /maɸe/ → /mawe/ → /maje/ → /mae/

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) まえ [máꜜè] (Atamadaka – [1])^[4]^[5]^[6]
IPA^(key): [ma̠e̞]

Noun

前(まえ) • (mae) ^{←まへ (mafe)^?}

the front
Antonym: 後ろ (ushiro)

前(まえ)へ進(すす)む
mae e susumu
to advance forwards
(literally, “to advance towards the front”)
the past
Antonym: 後 (ato)

前(まえ)にも言(い)ったように
mae ni mo itta yō ni
as I've said before
(literally, “just as I have said in the past”)
- 1934, Torahiko Terada, ゴルフ随行記
  ずっと前(まえ)からＭ君(Ｍくん)にゴルフの仲間入(なかまい)りをすすめられ、多少(たしょう)の誘惑(ゆうわく)は感(かん)じているが、今日(きょう)までのところでは頑強(がんきょう)に抵抗(ていこう)して云(い)う事(こと)を聞(き)かないでいる。
  Zutto mae kara Ｍkun ni gorufu no nakama iri o susumerare, tashō no yūwaku wa kanji te iru ga, kyō made no tokoro deha gankyō ni teikō shite iu koto o kika nai de iru.
  M has invited me to join his golfing group for long, and I feel attracted to some extent, but I firmly rejected his invitation and remained unconvinced so far.
previous
Antonym: 次 (tsugi)

前(まえ)の記(き)事(じ)
mae no kiji
previous entries

Suffix

前(まえ) • (-mae)

a portion, an amount
六(ろく)人(にん)前(まえ)の御(ご)膳(ぜん)
rokunin-mae no go-zen
a banquet for six people
ago
三(さん)年(ねん)前(まえ)
sannenmae
three years ago

ずっと前(まえ)からそう思(おも)ってた
zutto mae kara sō omotteta
I've thought that for ages
(literally, “I've been thinking that way since forever ago”)
makes place names that refer to the vicinity of a point of interest
市(し)役(やく)所(しょ)前(まえ)
Shiyakusho-mae
near the city hall

Etymology 2

More information Kanji in this term ...

Kanji in this term
前
さき Grade: 2
kun'yomi

Close

For pronunciation and definitions of 前 – see the following entry.

【先さき】1

[noun] before, previous

[noun] end, tip

[noun] earlier, the past

[noun] afterwards, the future

[noun] the destination of a motion or action

[noun] sequel

[noun] ahead, in front

(This term, 前, is an alternative spelling of the above term.)

Etymology 3

More information Kanji in this term ...

Kanji in this term
前
ぜん Grade: 2
goon

Close

From Middle Chinese 前 (MC dzen). Compare modern Mandarin 前 (qián).

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) ぜん [zéꜜǹ] (Atamadaka – [1])^[4]^[5]
IPA^(key): [d͡zẽ̞ɴ]

Counter

前(ぜん) • (-zen)

counter for irregularly shaped objects such as desks, armrests, and serving trays
counter for kami and shrines

Prefix

前(ぜん) • (zen-)

the last, the previous
pre- (of an era)

Suffix

前(ぜん) • (-zen)

(archaic) ago
- 1924, Mimei Ogawa, “海の彼方”, in ある夜の星だち‎:
  
  まさしく、三年(さんねん)前(ぜん)に失(な)くしたおじいさんのくれたバイオリンでありました。
  Masashiku, sannenzen ni nakushita ojīsan no kureta baiorin de arimashita.
  It was truly the violin that he had lost three years ago, that the old man had given to him.
(archaic) before
- 1919, Susukida Kyūkin, “地獄の住人”, in 新茶話‎:
  
  今度(こんど)の戦争(せんそう)前(ぜん)、このロイド・ジョウジ氏(し)が田舎(いなか)へ往(い)って政治演説(せいじえんぜつ)をしていた事(こと)があった。
  Kondo no sensōzen, kono roido jōji shi ga inaka e itte seiji enzetsu o shiteita koto ga atta.
  Before this war, the forementioned Mr Lloyd George went to the countryside and gave a political speech.

Etymology 4

More information Kanji in this term ...

Kanji in this term
前
ぜ Grade: 2
kan'yōon

Close

Contraction of 御(ご)前(ぜ) (goze), itself a contraction of 御(ご)前(ぜん) (go-zen), an honorific form of address.^[3]^[4]

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [d͡ze̞]

Suffix

前(ぜ) • (-ze)

(rare) an honorific suffix added to a noun denoting a person
尼(あま)前(ぜ)
ama-ze
(honorable) nun

References

[1]
Haga, Gōtarō (1914) 漢和大辞書 [The Great Kanji-Japanese Dictionary] (in Japanese), Fourth edition, Tōkyō: Kōbunsha, →DOI, page 301 (paper), page 200 (digital)
[2]
Shōundō Henshūjo, editor (1927), 新漢和辞典 [The New Kanji-Japanese Dictionary] (in Japanese), Ōsaka: Shōundō, →DOI, page 223 (paper), page 123 (digital)
[3]
Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典（新装版） [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
[4]
Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
[5]
NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN
[6]
Kindaichi, Kyōsuke et al., editors (1997), 新明解国語辞典 [Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten] (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

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Etymology

From Middle Chinese 前 (MC dzen).

More information Historical Readings ...

Historical Readings
Dongguk Jeongun Reading
Dongguk Jeongun, 1448	쪈 (Yale: ccyèn)
Middle Korean
Text	Eumhun
Text	*Gloss (hun)*	Reading
Hunmong Jahoe, 1527	앏 (Yale: àlp)	젼 (Yale: cyèn)

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Pronunciation

(SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕʌ̹n]
Phonetic hangul: [전]

Hanja

Korean Wikisource has texts containing the hanja:

前

Wikisource 前 (eumhun 앞 전 (ap jeon))

hanja form^? of 전 (“front; before”) [noun]
hanja form^? of 전 (“ex-; previous”) [prefix]

Compounds

여전 (如前, yeojeon)
전제 (前提, jeonje)
이전 (以前, ijeon)
오전 (午前, ojeon)
사전 (事前, sajeon)
종전 (從前, jongjeon)
전초 (前哨, jeoncho)
전후 (前後, jeonhu)
전직 (前職, jeonjik)
직전 (直前, jikjeon)
전년 (前年, jeonnyeon)
전진 (前進, jeonjin)
전례 (前例, jeollye)
전자 (前者, jeonja)
전방 (前方, jeonbang)
전진 (前陳, jeonjin)
전대 (前代, jeondae)
전력 (前歷, jeollyeok)
전조 (前兆, jeonjo)
전기 (前期, jeon'gi)
전선 (前線, jeonseon)
전략 (前略, jeollyak)
전위 (前衛, jeonwi)
전임 (前任, jeonim)
전도 (前途, jeondo)
생전 (生前, saengjeon)
전생 (前生, jeonsaeng)
전문 (前文, jeonmun)
전과 (前科, jeon'gwa)
전경 (前景, jeon'gyeong)
전월 (前月, jeonwol)
전차 (前次, jeoncha)
전편 (前篇, jeonpyeon)
전회 (前回, jeonhoe)
향전 (向前, hyangjeon)
전면 (前面, jeonmyeon)
전야 (前夜, jeonya)
문전 (門前, munjeon)
전기 (前記, jeon'gi)
전전 (前前, jeonjeon)
목전 (目前, mokjeon)
전망 (前望, jeonmang)
전세 (前世, jeonse)
면전 (面前, myeonjeon)
전분 (前分, jeonbun)
전신 (前身, jeonsin)
전주 (前週, jeonju)
전인 (前人, jeonin)
등전 (燈前, deungjeon)
식전 (食前, sikjeon)
혼전 (婚前, honjeon)
어전 (御前, eojeon)
전연 (前緣, jeonyeon)
일전 (日前, iljeon)
전일 (前日, jeonil)
사전 (死前, sajeon)
현전 (現前, hyeonjeon)
전구체 (前具體, jeon'guche)

References

국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典.

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Han character

前: Hán Nôm readings: tiền, tèn

Prefix

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前

chữ Hán form of tiền (“pre-, (history, of a dynasty) early (used to distinguish similarly named dynasties)”).

[1] [1]
Haga, Gōtarō (1914) 漢和大辞書 [The Great Kanji-Japanese Dictionary] (in Japanese), Fourth edition, Tōkyō: Kōbunsha, →DOI, page 301 (paper), page 200 (digital)

[2] [2]
Shōundō Henshūjo, editor (1927), 新漢和辞典 [The New Kanji-Japanese Dictionary] (in Japanese), Ōsaka: Shōundō, →DOI, page 223 (paper), page 123 (digital)

[KDJ-3] [3]
Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典（新装版） [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN

[DJR-4] [4]
Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[NHK-5] [5]
NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN

[SMK5-6] [6]
Kindaichi, Kyōsuke et al., editors (1997), 新明解国語辞典 [Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten] (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

Han character

Derived characters

References

Glyph origin

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

Definitions

Usage notes

Compounds

Descendants

Etymology 2

References

Kanji

Readings

Compounds

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

Noun

Suffix

Etymology 2

Etymology 3

Pronunciation

Counter

Prefix

Suffix

Etymology 4

Pronunciation

Suffix

References

Etymology

Pronunciation

Hanja

Compounds

References

Han character

Prefix

Translingual

Chinese

Japanese

Korean

Vietnamese