The word **前锋** (qiánfēng) is a compound noun formed by combining the character **前** (qián), meaning "front" or "forward," with **锋** (fēng), which originally means "sharp point" or "spearhead" and by extension denotes the vanguard or cutting edge. Together, they create a metaphorical meaning of "the front spearhead," literally referring to the front lines of a military advance. By semantic extension, it now commonly denotes the foremost position in any field, most famously the "forward" position in sports like soccer and basketball, capturing the idea of the leading attacker or pioneer at the forefront of action.