从前
HSK 3 (2021)Old HSK 5
从前 (cóngqián) · before
从前 (cóngqián) means “before; in the past; once upon a time”. It is written with 2 characters: 从 (from) + 前 (front). It is an HSK 3 word in the 2021 standard.
How 从前 is built
The characters
从 cóng · from
What 从 is made of
- 人rén — person
- 人rén — person
Origin hint: One person 人 following another (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
前 qián · front
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
Example sentences
从前这里有一条河。Cóngqián zhèlǐ yǒu yī tiáo hé.There used to be a river here.
他比从前高多了。Tā bǐ cóngqián gāo duō le.He is much taller than before.
Questions about 从前
What does 从前 mean?
从前 (cóngqián) means “before; in the past; once upon a time”.
How do you pronounce 从前?
从前 is pronounced cóngqián.
Which HSK level is 从前?
从前 is in HSK 3 (2021) and Old HSK 5.
Related words
- 从小cóngxiǎofrom childhood
- 从来cóngláialways
- 从事cóngshìto work in
- 自从zìcóngsince
- 从此cóngcǐfrom then on
- 从而cóng'érthus
- 从容cóngróngcalm
- 服从fúcóngto obey
- 从中cóngzhōngfrom it
- 从cóngfrom
Learn 从前 with its group
It is part of HSK 3 (2021) · Group 20: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.