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. 从前

从前 (cóng qián): In the past (Noun) — Meaning & Stroke Order

HSK 2.0Level 5
HSK 3.0Level 5
1.

Animated Stroke Order

Stroke order animation for 从前
74 learners have practiced this word
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
2.

Free Printable Worksheet: 从前

从前 writing worksheet PDF preview
Download Worksheet
Download full HSK 3.0 Level 5 PDF pack
3.

Character Breakdown

从 • cóng • from; follow; comply with • HSK 2.0 L2
HSK 2
cóng从

from; follow; comply with

前 • qián • front, forward, ahead, before
qián前

front, forward, ahead, before

Word Info

Pinyincóng qián
Meaningin the past; formerly
Characters2
SyntaxNoun

HSK 5 Words

More vocabulary at the same HSK level as 从前.

  • 惭愧cán kuìashamed
  • 窗帘chuāng liáncurtains; sunblind
  • 独特dú tèunique; distinctive
  • 采访cǎi fǎngto interview
  • 标点biāo diǎnpunctuation
  • 不耐烦bú nài fánimpatient
  • 超级chāo jísuper
  • 打喷嚏dǎ pēn tìto sneeze
  • 翅膀chì bǎngwing [of a bird]
  • 沉默chén mòreticent; taciturn; uncommunicative
  • 独立dú lìstand alone; independent; on one's own
  • 长途cháng túlong-distance
View all HSK 5 words →

Words Sharing Characters

More common words that include characters from 从前.

Words with 从
  • 从小cóng xiǎofrom childhood
  • 从中cóng zhōngfrom within
  • 从来cóng láialways
  • 从不
cóng bù
never
  • 从事cóng shìgo in for; devote oneself to; be to engaged in [formal]
  • 从此cóng cǐfrom this time on; from now; then on
  • 从而cóng érthus; therebyupon
  • 自从zì cóngsince
    • Words with 前
    • 前面qián miànfront
    • 以前yǐ qiánbefore
    • 前天qián tiānthe day before yesterday
    • 前年qián niánthe year before last
    • 面前miàn qiánin front of
    • 之前zhī qiánbefore
    • 前后qián hòuaround
    • 前方qián fāngahead
    4.

    How to Use 从前 in Sentences

    Adverb + Verbwith很久
    hěn很
    jiǔ久
    cóng从
    qián前
    neutral
    long long ago
    Verb + Objectwith回到
    huí回
    dào到
    cóng从
    qián前
    Adjective + Nounwith日子
    cóng从
    qián前
    de的
    rì日
    zi子
    Subject + Verbwith有
    cóng从
    qián前
    yǒu有
    zuò座
    shān山
    5.

    Example Sentences with 从前

    cóng从
    qián前
    ，
    yǒu有
    yī一
    zhī只
    neutral
    go back to the past
    neutral
    the days of the past
    neutral
    once upon a time there was a mountain
    xiǎo
    小
    māo猫
    。
    Once upon a time, there was a little cat.
    cóng从
    qián前
    ，
    zhè这
    lǐ里
    shì是
    yí一
    gè个
    ān安
    jìng静
    de的
    xiǎo小
    cūn村
    zhuāng庄
    。
    In the past, this was a quiet little village.
    cóng从
    qián前
    ，
    tā他
    shì是
    yí一
    wèi位
    chì叱
    zhà咤
    fēng风
    yún云
    de的
    qǐ企
    yè业
    jiā家
    ，
    rú如
    jīn今
    què却
    xuǎn选
    zé择
    guī归
    yǐn隐
    tián田
    yuán园
    。
    He was a powerful and influential entrepreneur in the past, but now he has chosen to retire to the countryside.
    nǐ你
    cóng从
    qián前
    shì是
    fǒu否
    yě也
    jīng经
    lì历
    guò过
    zhè这
    zhǒng种
    lìng令
    rén人
    páng彷
    huáng徨
    bù不
    ān安
    de的
    jué抉
    zé择
    shí时
    kè刻
    ？
    Did you also experience such a perplexing and unsettling moment of decision in the past?
    wǒ我
    cóng从
    qián前
    bìng并
    bú不
    rè热
    zhōng衷
    yú于
    gǔ古
    diǎn典
    yīn音
    yuè乐
    ，
    zhí直
    dào到
    nà那
    cì次
    ǒu偶
    rán然
    de的
    yīn音
    yuè乐
    huì会
    。
    I was not keen on classical music in the past, until that accidental concert.