About
The character "前" originated from a pictographic representation of a foot on a boat moving forward, combining elements that depicted movement on water, which was its earliest meaning related to physical advancement. Over time, this core idea of moving forward broadened to encompass the concept of precedence in both spatial and temporal dimensions, leading to its modern meanings of "front", "ahead", and "before". The traditional form, which is identical to the simplified in this case, structurally incorporates the component "止" for foot and a element representing a boat, though its modern appearance has stylized these origins. This semantic expansion from a specific action to a general indicator of position and sequence represents the primary shift in its application within the language.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
请到前面来。
他站在门前。
我以前住在上海。
考试前要好好休息。
前进的速度很快。
在出发前，请检查车辆。
科学家关注前沿科学。
在做出重要决定前，必须谨慎思考。