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前 qián — “front; before”
How to write and say the Chinese character 前 (qián), which means front; before — with stroke order, audio, its story, and an example sentence. Theme: Position & direction.
Pinyin · 拼音 qián
Meaning · 意思 front; before
Strokes · 笔画 9
Radical · 部首 刂 (knife)
Hear it · 听发音
Stroke order笔顺
前 is written with 9 strokes, in this order (the red stroke is the one being added):
The story behind it字源小故事
Long ago: a foot on a boat, drifting ahead — forward, in front.
A common word常用词
以前
before
Example sentence例句
我坐在前面。
I sit at the front.
This page is part of the free Chinese character explorer from Casey Foundation Chinese School — a Saturday community Chinese school in Narre Warren, Victoria, serving Berwick, Cranbourne, Hallam and families across Melbourne's southeast. New students get a free trial lesson.