前
Character learning workspace

qián · in front, forward

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 3.0 · Level 1Frequency #127
Watch · inspect · write

Learn every stroke in 前

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Step-by-step explorer

See how 前 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

9Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Top-bottomCharacter structure

Keep the upper section balanced above the lower section.

刂Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 前 writing sheet

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 前

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

qiánWords pronounced qián
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Example sentences

Notice where 前 sits in each complete thought.

Wǒ bù gǎn zǒu zài qián miàn, tài hēi le.我不敢走在前面,太黑了。

I'm afraid to go first, it's too dark.

Source: Tatoeba #934268 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā zǒu zài wǒ de miàn qián.他走在我的面前。

He walked before me.

Source: Tatoeba #760397 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ qián tiān pèng dào le tā.我前天碰到了他。

I met him the day before yesterday.

Source: Tatoeba #10350436 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā zài bú shì yǐ qián de tā le.他再不是以前的他了。

He is not what he was.

Source: Tatoeba #364354 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ huì zài nà zhī qián jiàn tā.我会在那之前见他。

I'll see him before that.

Source: Tatoeba #5571896 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Bú yào zhàn zài wǒ qián miàn.不要站在我前面。

Don't stand in front of me!

Source: Tatoeba #8888273 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 前 in context

  1. Say qián, then recall the core meaning: in front, forward.
  2. Write all 9 strokes while keeping the top-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 前面 (qián miàn), meaning “ahead”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 前 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.