Hanzi Stroke Logo
Hanzi Stroke

Making Chinese characters easy to write.

Sister Sites
Five Elements TestChinese-Idioms.com
AboutProduct UpdatesPrivacy PolicyTerms of Service
DICTIONARY
  • Chinese Dictionary
  • Pinyin Index
  • Radical Index
  • Character Components
  • HSK Dictionary
  • Character Compare
DICTIONARY
  • Chinese Dictionary
  • Pinyin Index
  • Radical Index
  • Character Components
  • HSK Dictionary
  • Character Compare
TOOLS

Practice & Review

  • Writing Practice
  • Flashcard Review
  • Dictation Practice
  • Worksheet Generator
  • Sentence Practice
  • Hanzi Sticker Match

Resources & Utilities

  • Worksheet Library
  • HSK Level Checker
  • Pinyin Converter

Fun & Culture

  • Name Generator
  • Zodiac Calculator
TOOLS

Practice & Review

  • Writing Practice
  • Flashcard Review
  • Dictation Practice
  • Worksheet Generator
  • Sentence Practice
  • Hanzi Sticker Match

Resources & Utilities

  • Worksheet Library
  • HSK Level Checker
  • Pinyin Converter

Fun & Culture

  • Name Generator
  • Zodiac Calculator
LEARN
  • Learning Center
  • Courses
  • Blog
  • Chinese Stroke Rules
  • Chinese Poetry
  • Pro Membership ✨
LEARN
  • Learning Center
  • Courses
  • Blog
  • Chinese Stroke Rules
  • Chinese Poetry
  • Pro Membership ✨

© 2026 Hanzi Stroke. All rights reserved.

Made with♥for Chinese learners.
HanziStroke Logo
Hanzi Stroke
By CharacterBrowse all characters A-Z
HSK ListsAll HSK versions overview
HSK 2.0
HSK Standard CourseHSK 2.0
Practice & Review
  1. Home
  3. Dictionary
  5. 前

前 (qián): Front — Stroke Order & Writing Guide

HSK 3.0Level 1
HSK 3.0:Recognition 1
By PinyinSearch by pronunciation
By RadicalFind by radical component
By ComponentsLearn meaning and sound clues
Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 6
HSK 3.0
Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 6Level 7-9
New HSK CourseHSK 3.0
Integrated ChineseFourth Edition
Hanyu JiaochengThird Edition
Developing ChineseSecond Edition
Browse all courses
Writing PracticePractice HSK and saved words
Flashcard ReviewSRS review for HSK and custom decks
Dictation PracticeListen and write characters
Worksheet GeneratorCreate practice sheets for free
Sentence PracticeWrite complete sentences in context
Hanzi Sticker MatchFree pinyin–hanzi matching game
Resources & Utilities
Worksheet LibraryHSK, Top 100 & themed PDFs
HSK Level CheckerCheck HSK level of any text
Pinyin ConverterConvert Chinese to Pinyin
Fun & Culture
Name GeneratorCreate your Chinese name
Zodiac CalculatorFind your zodiac animal
View All Tools
HSK 3.0Vocab 1Recognition 1
1.

Animated Stroke Order 前

Watch the stroke order, then trace it yourself.

How to write 前 — animated stroke order

2,810 learners practiced this

2.

Stroke Order Diagrams 前

前 stroke order diagram
3.

Printable Writing Worksheet: 前

前 handwriting practice worksheet preview
Download full HSK 3.0 Level 1 PDF pack
4.

How to Use 前

Spatial front and direction

前 + noun/verb

In words about physical position or movement, 前 points to the front side or forward direction.

前面 • qián miàn • front • HSK 1
5.

HSK Vocabulary: 前

前天 • qián tiān • the day before yesterday
HSK 3.0 · L3
qián前
tiān
6.

Example Sentences

tā他
zhàn站
zài在
wǒ我
miàn面
qián前

Information

Pinyinqián
Meaningfront, forward, ahead, before
Strokes9
Radical刂
Traditional前
StructureTop-Bottom
Frequency#53
Zhuyinㄑㄧㄢˊ
UnicodeU+524D
CangjieTBLN
HSK 1
qián前
miàn面

front

前方 • qián fāng • ahead • HSK 3.0 · L4
HSK 3.0 · L4
qián前
fāng方

ahead

前进 • qián jìn • to go forward • HSK 3.0 · L5
HSK 3.0 · L5
qián前
jìn进

to go forward

前往 • qián wǎng • to leave for; to proceed towards; to go to • HSK 3.0 · L5
HSK 3.0 · L5
qián前
wǎng往

to leave for; to proceed towards; to go to

Time before or earlier

noun/verb + 前

In words about time, 前 indicates a point or period before the present or a reference time.

以前 • yǐ qián • before • HSK 3
HSK 3
yǐ以
qián前

before

从前 • cóng qián • in the past; formerly • HSK 5
HSK 5
cóng从
qián前

in the past; formerly

之前 • zhī qián • before • HSK 3.0 · L4
HSK 3.0 · L4
zhī之
qián前

before

当前 • dāng qián • before one; present; current • HSK 6
HSK 6
dāng当
qián前

before one; present; current

Future and prospects

前 + noun

In words about what lies ahead, 前 refers to future possibilities or career outlook.

前途 • qián tú • future; prospect; promise • HSK 5
HSK 5
qián前
tú途

future; prospect; promise

前景 • qián jǐng • foreground; prospect; vista • HSK 6
HSK 6
qián前
jǐng景

foreground; prospect; vista

前程 • qián chéng • future • HSK 3.0 · L7-9
HSK 3.0 · L7-9
qián前
chéng程

future

In front of a person or thing

noun + 前

In words about location relative to a person or object, 前 means 'in front of' or 'before one's eyes'.

面前 • miàn qián • in front of • HSK 3.0 · L3
HSK 3.0 · L3
miàn面
qián前

in front of

眼前 • yǎn qián • before one's eyes • HSK 3.0 · L4
HSK 3.0 · L4
yǎn眼
qián前

before one's eyes

跟前 • gēn qián • at one's side; living with me/us etc • HSK 6
HSK 6
gēn跟
qián前

at one's side; living with me/us etc

天

the day before yesterday

前年 • qián nián • the year before last
HSK 3.0 · L3
qián前
nián年

the year before last

前后 • qián hòu • around
HSK 3.0 · L4
qián前
hòu后

around

提前 • tí qián • in advance
HSK 4
tí提
qián前

in advance

目前 • mù qián • at present
HSK 5
mù目
qián前

at present

前来 • qián lái • to come (formal)
HSK 3.0 · L5
qián前
lái来

to come (formal)

，
wēi微
xiào笑
zhe着
shuō说
huà话
。

He stood in front of me, speaking with a smile.

qián前
tiān天
wǒ我
qù去
le了
tú图
shū书
guǎn馆
jiè借
shū书
。

I went to the library to borrow books the day before yesterday.

wǒ我
men们
yào要
jì继
xù续
qián前
jìn进
，
bú不
yào要
fàng放
qì弃
。

We must keep moving forward and not give up.

wǒ我
de的
jiā家
zài在
shāng商
diàn店
qián前
。

My house is in front of the store.

qǐng请
wǎng往
qián前
zǒu走
。

Please walk forward.

Related Characters

Explore characters by relationship

HSK (3.0) Level 1

Characters from the same exam level.

  • 再zàiagain
  • 在zàiin; at; on
  • 早zǎoearly; morning
  • 找zhǎoto find; to look for
  • 这zhèthis
  • 真zhēnreal; so (+adjective)
View all HSK (3.0) 1 characters →

Same Sound

Characters pronounced "qian".

  • 倩qiànbeautiful, lovely; son-in-law
  • 乾qiándry; first hexagram; warming principle of the sun, penetrating and fertilizing, heavenly generative principle (male)
  • 黔qiánblack; Guizhou
  • 堑qiànmoat, trench, pit, cavity
  • 茜qiànmadder, rubia cordifolia; reeds
  • 仟qiānone thousand; leader of one thousand men
View all "qian" characters →

Same Radical

Characters with radical "刂".

  • 刽guìamputate, cut off
  • 剐guǎcut, cut flesh from bones
  • 剿jiǎodestroy, exterminate, annihilate
  • 剽piāorob, plunder; slice off; fast
  • 剥bāoto peel, to skin, to strip off
  • 刑xíngpunishment, penalty
View all "刂" radical characters →