前
前 (qián) means “front”. It is made of 丷 + 一 + 刖 and has 9 strokes, and is an HSK 1 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
Break 前 into its parts
What 前 is made of
- 丷 ha — kwukyel
- 丶 — dot
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 刖 yuè — cutting off the feet as a form of punishment
- 月 yuè — moon; month
- 冂 — frame
- 二 — two strokes
- 刂 dāo — knife
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 亅 — hook
- 月 yuè — moon; month
前 stroke order
Example sentences
我家前面有树。Wǒ jiā qiánmiàn yǒu shù.There are trees in front of my house.
吃饭前要洗手。Chīfàn qián yào xǐ shǒu.Wash your hands before eating.
Words with 前
- 前边qiánbianin front
- 前天qiántiānday before yesterday
- 面前miànqiánin front of
- 前年qiánniánthe year before last
- 以前yǐqiánbefore
- 从前cóngqiánbefore
- 目前mùqiánat present
- 前后qiánhòuaround (a time)
- 前进qiánjìnto go forward
- 前面qiánmiànin front
- 前往qiánwǎngto go to
- 提前tíqiánin advance
- 眼前yǎnqiánbefore one's eyes
- 前头qiántouin front
- 前途qiántúfuture
- 之前zhīqiánbefore
- 当前dāngqiáncurrent
- 跟前gēnqiánin front of
- 空前绝后kōngqiánjuéhòuunprecedented and unrepeatable
- 前景qiánjǐngprospects
- 前提qiántíprecondition
- 先前xiānqiánbefore
- 前方qiánfāngahead
Also built with ⿱
- 串chuànstring
- 乐lèhappy
- 亮liàngbright
- 伤shānginjury
- 侃kǎnupright and strong
- 其qíhis
- 具jùtool
- 兼jiānboth
- 兽shòubeast
- 劳láoto labor
- 卸xièto unload
- 参cānto take part in
Quick facts
| Pinyin | qián |
|---|---|
| Meaning | front; before |
| Strokes | 9 |
| Radical | 刀 (knife, #18) |
| Pattern | Top–bottom |
| HSK | HSK 1 (exam 2025) · HSK 1 (2021) |
Questions about 前
What does 前 mean?
前 (qián) means “front; before”.
How many strokes does 前 have?
前 has 9 strokes.
What is the radical of 前?
The radical of 前 is 刀 (dāo, “knife”), Kangxi radical number 18.
What parts make up 前?
前 is made of 丷 (kwukyel) and 一 (horizontal stroke) and 刖 (cutting off the feet as a form of punishment).
Which HSK level is 前?
前 is in HSK 1 (exam 2025) and HSK 1 (2021).
Learn 前 with its group
It is part of HSK 1 (2021) · Group 43: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.