Usage of the character 前

History of the Former Han Dynasty, second of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史 ( Ershísì Shǐ), composed by Ban Gu 班固 ( Bān Gù) in 82 during Eastern Han (later Han), 100 scrolls

qiánsānjiǎ

前三甲

[前三甲]

top three

qiánlüèyì

前掠翼

[前掠翼]

swept-forward wing (on jet fighter)

qiánnányǒu

前男友

[前男友]

ex-boyfriend

qiánzòuqǔ

前奏曲

[前奏曲]

prelude (music)

qiánmóchǐ

前磨齿

[前磨齒]

premolar tooth

qiánzhìcí

前置词

[前置詞]

preposition

Qiánzhènqū

前镇区

[前鎮區]

Qianzhen or Chienchen district of Kaohsiung city 高雄市 ( Gāoxióngshì), south Taiwan

qiánbànshǎng

前半晌

[前半晌]

morning
a.m.
first half of the day

yòuqiánwèi

右前卫

[右前衛]

right forward (soccer position)

qiánzhàodēng

前照灯

[前照燈]

(vehicle) headlight

dàqiánnián

大前年

[大前年]

three years ago

jìnshìqiánxián

尽释前嫌

[盡釋前嫌]

to forget former enmity (idiom)

chóuchúbùqián

踌躇不前

[躊躇不前]

to hesitate to move forward
to hesitate
to hold back

kāishǐyǐqián

开始以前

[開始以前]

before the beginning (of sth)

yuèxiàhuāqián

月下花前

[月下花前]

lit. amidst the flowers under the moonlight (idiom)
fig. romantic surroundings

qiántūhòuqiào

前凸后翘

[前凸後翹]

(of a woman) to have nice curves; buxom; shapely

gèbènqiánchéng

各奔前程

[各奔前程]

each goes his own way (idiom); each person has his own life to lead

qiányǎnghòuhé

前仰后合

[前仰後合]

to sway to and fro
to rock back and forth

qiángōngjìnqì

前功尽弃

[前功盡棄]

to waste all one's previous efforts (idiom)
all that has been achieved goes down the drain

tíqiántóupiào

提前投票

[提前投票]

early vote

jìnzàiyǎnqián

近在眼前

[近在眼前]

right under one's nose; right in front of one's eyes; close at hand; imminent

zàicǐzhīqián

在此之前

[在此之前]

before that
beforehand
previously

zhuānměiyúqián

专美于前

[專美於前]

to monopolize the limelight (idiom)
to get all the glory
to rank highest

qiánfǔhòuyǎng

前俯后仰

[前俯後仰]

to rock one's body backward and forward
to be convulsed (with laughter etc)

qiánduānzǒngxiàn

前端总线

[前端總線]

(computing) front-side bus (FSB)

qiánxìnhàodēng

前信号灯

[前信號燈]

car front indicator

tònggǎiqiánfēi

痛改前非

[痛改前非]

completely correcting one's former misdeeds (idiom); to repent past mistakes and turn over a new leaf
a reformed character

qiánsuǒwèiyǒu

前所未有

[前所未有]

unprecedented

bīngshìqiánxián

冰释前嫌

[冰釋前嫌]

to forget previous differences; to bury the hatchet

tàbùbùqián

踏步不前

[踏步不前]

to be at a standstill
to mark time

xuéqiánjiàoyù

学前教育

[學前教育]

preschool education
early childhood education

shèngkuàngkōngqián

盛况空前

[盛況空前]

a magnificent and unprecedented event (idiom)

yīwǎngwúqián

一往无前

[一往無前]

to advance courageously (idiom)
to press forward

huāqiányuèxià

花前月下

[花前月下]

see 月下花前 (yuèxiàhuāqián)

púfúqiánjìn

匍匐前进

[匍匐前進]

to crawl forward

chāoqiányìshí

超前意识

[超前意識]

foresight

jǐnxiùqiánchéng

锦绣前程

[錦繡前程]

bright future
bright prospects

qiánlièxiànyán

前列腺炎

[前列腺炎]

prostatitis

shǐwúqiánlì

史无前例

[史無前例]

(idiom) unprecedented in history

bùgùqiánhòu

不顾前后

[不顧前後]

regardless of what's before or after (idiom); rushing blindly into sth

qiántítiáojiàn

前提条件

[前提條件]

preconditions

zījūbùqián

趑趄不前

[趑趄不前]

hesitant and not daring to move forward (idiom)

báqiánzhìhòu

跋前踬后

[跋前躓後]

to trip forwards or stumble back (idiom, from Book of Songs); can't get anything right

qiántúmiǎománg

前途渺茫

[前途渺茫]

not knowing what to do next
at a loose end

qiánfānggāonéng

前方高能

[前方高能]

(slang) Something awesome is about to happen! (originally, in a Japanese space battleship anime, it meant "Danger! High energy up ahead!" — a warning to either prepare for battle or take evasive action)

qiányīnhòuguǒ

前因后果

[前因後果]

cause and effects (idiom); entire process of development

qiánpūhòujì

前仆后继

[前仆後繼]

one falls, the next follows (idiom); stepping into the breach to replace fallen comrades
advancing wave upon wave

rúdòngqiánjìn

蠕动前进

[蠕動前進]

wriggle

zǐdiānqiánzhèng

子癫前症

[子癲前症]

pre-eclampsia, toxaemia of pregnancy (medicine)

Kēyòuqiánqí

科右前旗

[科右前旗]

Horqin right front banner, Mongolian Khorchin Baruun Garyn Ömnöd khoshuu, in Hinggan league 興安盟／兴安盟 ( Xīng'ānméng), east Inner Mongolia

tíngzhìbùqián

停滞不前

[停滯不前]

stuck and not moving forward (idiom); stagnant
in a rut
at a standstill

yǒngwǎngzhíqián

勇往直前

[勇往直前]

to advance bravely

qiánwúgǔrén

前无古人

[前無古人]

(idiom) unprecedented
unheard of

qiántúwèibǔ

前途未卜

[前途未卜]

hanging in the balance
the future is hard to forecast
¿Qué serà?
who knows what the future holds?

Shèngdànqiánxī

圣诞前夕

[聖誕前夕]

Christmas eve

yīzhíwǎngqián

一直往前

[一直往前]

straight ahead

qiánbànshǎngr

前半晌儿

[前半晌兒]

erhua variant of 前半晌 (qiánbànshǎng)

qiánbàntiānr

前半天儿

[前半天兒]

erhua variant of 前半天 (qiánbàntiān)

xiàngqiánfānténg

向前翻腾

[向前翻騰]

forward somersault

yīxuěqiánchǐ

一雪前耻

[一雪前恥]

to wipe away a humiliation (idiom)

chāoqiánxiāofèi

超前消费

[超前消費]

excessive consumption; spending beyond one's means

qiánfùhòujì

前赴后继

[前赴後繼]

to advance dauntlessly in wave upon wave (idiom)

guāngqiányùhòu

光前裕后

[光前裕後]

to bring honor to one's ancestors and benefit future generations (idiom)

bāqiánsuànhòu

巴前算后

[巴前算後]

thinking and pondering (idiom); to turn sth over in one's mind
to consider repeatedly

zàizhèzhīqián

在这之前

[在這之前]

before then
up until that point

qiánduànshíjiān

前段时间

[前段時間]

recently

qiányuánwèiliǎo

前缘未了

[前緣未了]

one's predestined fate is yet to be fulfilled (idiom)

mínglièqiánmáo

名列前茅

[名列前茅]

to rank among the best

xīnniánqiánxī

新年前夕

[新年前夕]

New Year's eve

chíchúbuqián

踟蹰不前

[踟躕不前]

hesitant to take action

mǎshīqiántí

马失前蹄

[馬失前蹄]

lit. the horse loses its front hooves
fig. sudden failure through miscalculation or inattentiveness

qiánsuǒwèiwén

前所未闻

[前所未聞]

unheard-of; unprecedented

qiánchéngyuǎndà

前程远大

[前程遠大]

to have a future full of promise

chéngqiánbìhòu

惩前毖后

[懲前毖後]

lit. to punish those before to prevent those after (idiom); to criticize former mistakes firmly to prevent them happening again

chéngqiánqǐhòu

承前启后

[承前啟後]

to follow the past and herald the future (idiom); part of a historical transition
forming a bridge between earlier and later stages

wèisuōbùqián

畏缩不前

[畏縮不前]

to shrink back in fear (idiom); too cowardly to advance

ānqiánmǎhòu

鞍前马后

[鞍前馬後]

to follow everywhere
to always be there for sb at their beck and call

chāoqiánmiáozhǔn

超前瞄准

[超前瞄準]

to aim in front of a moving target

yǒngwǎngqiánjìn

勇往前进

[勇往前進]

see 勇往直前 (yǒngwǎngzhíqián)

chǎnqiánjiǎnchá

产前检查

[產前檢查]

prenatal checkup; antenatal examination

sīqiánxiǎnghòu

思前想后

[思前想後]

to consider past cause and future effect (idiom); to think over the past and future
to ponder over reasons and connection

shēngqiányùzhǔ

生前预嘱

[生前預囑]

living will

qiánlièxiànsù

前列腺素

[前列腺素]

prostaglandin

qiánchēzhījiàn

前车之鉴

[前車之鑒]

to learn a lesson from the mistakes of one's predecessor (idiom)

tíqiánqǐbào

提前起爆

[提前起爆]

"fizzle" (atomic bomb misfire)
preinitiation

wěnbùbùqián

稳步不前

[穩步不前]

to mark time and make no advances (idiom)

qiánshìyīnyuán

前世姻缘

[前世姻緣]

a marriage predestined in a former life (idiom)

Bǐdéqiánshū

彼得前书

[彼得前書]

First Epistle of Peter (in New Testament)

qiánjùhòugōng

前倨后恭

[前倨後恭]

to switch from arrogance to deference (idiom)

kōngqiánjuéhòu

空前绝后

[空前絕後]

unprecedented and never to be duplicated
the first and the last
unmatched
unique

jīngjìqiántú

经济前途

[經濟前途]

economic future
economic outlook

qiántúwúliàng

前途无量

[前途無量]

to have boundless prospects

qiánjǐngkěqī

前景可期

[前景可期]

to have a promising future
to have bright prospects

shéjiānqiányīn

舌尖前音

[舌尖前音]

alveolar
consonants z, c, s produced with the tip of the tongue on the alveolar ridge

qiánsuǒwèijiàn

前所未见

[前所未見]

unprecedented
never seen before

cǐshíyǐqián

此时以前

[此時以前]

heretofore

dàdídāngqián

大敌当前

[大敵當前]

(idiom) to be faced with a formidable enemy

qūnxúnbùqián

逡巡不前

[逡巡不前]

to hesitate to move forward
to balk
to jib

zhānqiángùhòu

瞻前顾后

[瞻前顧後]

lit. to look forward and back (idiom)
fig. to consider carefully; to weigh the pros and cons
fig. to be overcautious and indecisive

pánshānbùqián

蹒跚不前

[蹣跚不前]

to falter
to stall

yīwǎngzhíqián

一往直前

[一往直前]

see 一往無前／一往无前 (yīwǎngwúqián)

zhèngxiàngqiánkàn

正向前看

[正向前看]

look-ahead assertion

guǒzúbùqián

裹足不前

[裹足不前]

to stand still without advancing (idiom); to hesitate and hold back

qiánhánwǔjì

前寒武纪

[前寒武紀]

pre-Cambrian, geological period before c. 540m years ago

Wànshèngjié Qiányè

万圣节前夜

[萬聖節前夜]

Halloween

dàomùqiánwéizhǐ

到目前为止

[到目前為止]

until now; so far

qián'éyèpízhì

前额叶皮质

[前額葉皮質]

prefrontal cortex (PFC)

shǐqiángǔqìwù

史前古器物

[史前古器物]

prehistoric artifacts
ancient artifacts

Etuōkèqiánqí

鄂托克前旗

[鄂托克前旗]

Otog Front banner or Otgiin Ömnöd khoshuu in Ordos 鄂爾多斯／鄂尔多斯 ( Eěrduōsī), Inner Mongolia

Wànshèngjié Qiánxī

万圣节前夕

[萬聖節前夕]

All Saints' Eve
Halloween

hūnqiánxìngxíngwéi

婚前性行为

[婚前性行為]

premarital sex

Wūlātèqiánqí

乌拉特前旗

[烏拉特前旗]

Urat Front banner or Urdyn Ömnöd khoshuu in Bayan Nur 巴彥淖爾／巴彦淖尔 ( Bāyànnào'ěr), Inner Mongolia

Gēlínduōqiánshū

哥林多前书

[哥林多前書]

First epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians

qiányíshìchāchē

前移式叉车

[前移式叉車]

reach truck

qiánxiōngtiēhòubèi

前胸贴后背

[前胸貼後背]

(lit.) chest sticking to back
(fig.) famished
(of several persons) packed chest to back

qiánzhìxiūshìyǔ

前置修饰语

[前置修飾語]

premodifier (grammar)

Tímótàiqiánshū

提摩太前书

[提摩太前書]

First epistle of St Paul to Timothy

gǎnqiánbùgǎnhòu

赶前不赶后

[趕前不趕後]

it's better to hurry at the start than to rush later (idiom)

shuānghòuqiánbīngkāijú

双后前兵开局

[雙后前兵開局]

Double Queen Pawn Opening
Closed Game (chess)
same as 封閉性開局／封闭性开局

hūnqiáncáichǎngōngzhèng

婚前财产公证

[婚前財產公證]

prenuptial agreement
dowry contract

chǒuhuàshuōzàiqiántou

丑话说在前头

[醜話說在前頭]

let's talk about the unpleasant things first; let's be frank

qiánpàlánghòupàhǔ

前怕狼后怕虎

[前怕狼後怕虎]

lit. to fear the wolf in front and the tiger behind (idiom)
fig. to be full of needless fears
reds under the beds

límíngqiándehēi'àn

黎明前的黑暗

[黎明前的黑暗]

darkness comes before dawn
things can only get better (idiom)

hǎohànbùchīyǎnqiánkuī

好汉不吃眼前亏

[好漢不吃眼前虧]

a wise man knows better than to fight when the odds are against him (idiom)

chēdàoshānqiánbìyǒulù

车到山前必有路

[車到山前必有路]

lit. when we get to the mountain, there'll be a way through (idiom)
fig. everything will turn out for the best; let's worry about it when it happens; it will be all right on the night

Cháhā'ěryòuyìqiánqí

察哈尔右翼前旗

[察哈爾右翼前旗]

Chahar Right Front banner or Caxar Baruun Garyn Ömnöd khoshuu in Ulaanchab 烏蘭察布／乌兰察布 ( Wūlánchábù), Inner Mongolia

chēdàoshānqiánzìyǒulù

车到山前自有路

[車到山前自有路]

see 車到山前必有路／车到山前必有路 (chēdàoshānqiánbìyǒulù)

Cháng Jiānghòulàngcuīqiánlàng

长江后浪催前浪

[長江後浪催前浪]

see 長江後浪推前浪／长江后浪推前浪 ( Cháng Jiānghòulàngtuīqiánlàng)

qiánbùpícéngxiàsǔnshāng

前部皮层下损伤

[前部皮層下損傷]

anterior subcortical lesions

Kē'ěrqìnyòuyìqiánqí

科尔沁右翼前旗

[科爾沁右翼前旗]

Horqin right front banner, Mongolian Khorchin Baruun Garyn Ömnöd khoshuu, in Hinggan league 興安盟／兴安盟 ( Xīng'ānméng), east Inner Mongolia

Cháng Jiānghòulàngtuīqiánlàng

长江后浪推前浪

[長江後浪推前浪]

lit. the rear waves of the Yangtze River drive on those before (idiom)
fig. the new is constantly replacing the old
each new generation excels the previous
(of things) to be constantly evolving

Guāngōngmiànqiánshuǎdàdāo

关公面前耍大刀

[關公面前耍大刀]

lit. to wield the broadsword in the presence of Lord Guan (idiom)
fig. to make a fool of oneself by showing off in front of an expert

Tiěsāluóníjiāqiánshū

帖撒罗尼迦前书

[帖撒羅尼迦前書]

First epistle of St Paul to the Thessalonians

wǔbǎiniánqiánshìyījiā

五百年前是一家

[五百年前是一家]

five hundred years ago we were the same family (idiom) (said of persons with the same surname)

qiánchēzhīfù,hòuchēzhījiàn

前车之覆，后车之鉴

[前車之覆，後車之鑒]

lit. the cart in front overturns, a warning to the following cart (idiom); fig. draw lesson from the failure of one's predecessor
learn from past mistake
once bitten twice shy

qiánméndǎhǔ,hòuméndǎláng

前门打虎，后门打狼

[前門打虎，後門打狼]