The word 从前 is formed by combining two spatial prepositions into a single temporal concept. The character 从 (cóng) originally depicts one person following another, conveying the sense of "from" or "following", while 前 (qián) means "front" or "ahead". When joined, they create a metaphorical image of looking backward along the path one has come from, shifting the meaning from physical space to time, thus expressing the idea of "formerly" or "in the past".