前 qián
front / before / ago
前 (qián) means "front / before / ago" in Chinese and is one of the highest-frequency words in the Speak1000 curriculum.
Words used with 前
目前
mùqián
currently / at present
路口
lùkǒu
intersection
办法
bànfǎ
method / way (to solve a problem)
必须
bìxū
must / have to
Frequently asked questions
What does 前 (qián) mean in Chinese?
前 (qián) means "front / before / ago" in Chinese. 前 (qián) means "front / before / ago" in Chinese and is one of the highest-frequency words in the Speak1000 curriculum.
How do you use 前 in a sentence?
Use 前 (qián) the way you would use "front / before / ago" in English, then build longer sentences by adding words you already know around it.
What words are commonly used with 前?
Common words that pair with 前 include 目前. Learning these together helps you build complete, natural sentences instead of isolated vocabulary.
What is the difference between 前 (qián) and 下去 (xiàqù)?
Both are high-frequency Chinese words taught early in Speak1000. 前 means "front / before / ago"; 下去 means "continue / go on". The fastest way to tell them apart is to hear each one used in real sentences — our free lessons drill every word in context so the contrast becomes natural.
Related Chinese concepts
Why this concept matters
One concept should unlock a network, not one translation
Speak1000 teaches 前 as part of a cumulative sentence network. You connect it to concepts you already know, hear the combinations in context, and retrieve them in new situations.
See the Concept Unlock MethodHear 前 used in real sentences
The fastest way to remember 前 (qián) is to hear it used naturally. Start with our free interactive lesson and practice with real audio from day one.
Try Free Lesson: Unit 1