前

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前 U+524D, 前
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-524D
← 剌
 		CJK Unified Ideographs 剎 →

Translingual

Stroke order
9 strokes

Han character

前 (Kangxi radical 18, 刀+7, 9 strokes, cangjie input 廿月中弓 (TBLN), four-corner 80221, composition ⿱䒑刖)

Derived characters

References

  • Kangxi Dictionary: page 140, character 15
  • Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 2011
  • Dae Jaweon: page 318, character 6
  • Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 248, character 4
  • Unihan data for U+524D

Chinese

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 前
Western Zhou Warring States Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han) Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Bronze inscriptions Chu slip and silk script Qin slip script Small seal script Transcribed ancient scripts
Characters in the same phonetic series (前) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 
Old Chinese
媊 *ʔslel, *ʔslenʔ
煎 *ʔslen, *ʔslens
湔 *ʔslen, *ʔslens, *ʔsleːn, *zleːn
鬋 *ʔslen, *ʔslenʔ, *ʔslens
剪 *ʔslenʔ
翦 *ʔslenʔ
譾 *ʔslenʔ
揃 *ʔslenʔ
箭 *ʔslens
葥 *ʔslens
前 *zleːn
騚 *zleːn
歬 *zleːn

Originally 歬, an ideogrammic compound (會意／会意) : 止 (“foot”) + 舟 (“boat”) – a foot on a boat moving forward. Alternatively, 舟 represents a shoe (cf. Shuowen 履: 舟象履形) — a foot with a shoe on to walk forward.

In the current form, 止 is simplified to 䒑 and 舟 to 月. The current form with an additional 刀 (“knife”) is the original form of 剪 (OC *ʔslenʔ, “to cut”).

Etymology 1

trad. 前
simp. # 前
alternative forms 偂
歬
𠝣
𣥑
𣦃

Unknown (Schuessler, 2007).

Pronunciation

Note:
  • sèng - vernacular;
  • cièng - literary.
Note:
  • chêng/chûiⁿ/châiⁿ - vernacular;
  • chiân - literary;
  • chûn - vernacular (limited, e.g. 前年 (qiánnián));
  • chân - vernacular (limited).
Note:
  • zoin5 - Chaozhou, Shantou;
  • zain5 - Jieyang, Chaoyang, Puning, Huilai.
  • Dialectal data
Variety Location 前
Mandarin Beijing /t͡ɕʰian³⁵/
Harbin /t͡ɕʰian²⁴/ ～天
/t͡ɕʰian²¹³/ 跟～兒
Tianjin /t͡ɕʰian⁴⁵/
Jinan /t͡ɕʰiã⁴²/
Qingdao /t͡sʰiã⁴²/
Zhengzhou /t͡sʰian⁴²/
Xi'an /t͡ɕʰiã²⁴/
Xining /t͡ɕʰiã²⁴/
Yinchuan /t͡ɕʰian⁵³/
Lanzhou /t͡ɕʰiɛ̃n⁵³/
Ürümqi /t͡ɕʰian⁵¹/
Wuhan /t͡ɕʰiɛn²¹³/
Chengdu /t͡ɕʰian³¹/
Guiyang /t͡ɕʰian²¹/
Kunming /t͡ɕʰiɛ̃³¹/
Nanjing /t͡sʰien²⁴/
Hefei /t͡ɕʰiĩ⁵⁵/
Jin Taiyuan /t͡ɕʰie¹¹/
Pingyao /t͡ɕʰie̞¹³/
/t͡ɕie̞¹³/
Hohhot /t͡ɕʰie³¹/
Wu Shanghai /ʑi²³/
Suzhou /ziɪ¹³/
Hangzhou /d͡ʑd͡ʑiẽ̞²¹³/
Wenzhou /ji³¹/
Hui Shexian /t͡sʰe⁴⁴/
Tunxi /t͡sʰiɛ⁴⁴/
Xiang Changsha /t͡siẽ¹³/
Xiangtan /d͡ziẽ¹²/
Gan Nanchang /t͡ɕʰiɛn²⁴/
Hakka Meixian /t͡sʰien¹¹/
Taoyuan /t͡sʰien¹¹/
Cantonese Guangzhou /t͡sʰin²¹/
Nanning /t͡sʰin²¹/
Hong Kong /t͡sʰin²¹/
Min Xiamen (Hokkien) /t͡sian³⁵/
/t͡siŋ³⁵/
Fuzhou (Eastern Min) /t͡sieŋ⁵³/
Jian'ou (Northern Min) /t͡sʰiŋ³³/
Shantou (Teochew) /t͡sõi⁵⁵/
Haikou (Hainanese) /sin³¹/
/tai³¹/
/tun³¹/
Rime
Character 前
Reading # 1/1
Initial (聲) 從 (15)
Final (韻) 先 (85)
Tone (調) Level (Ø)
Openness (開合) Open
Division (等) IV
Fanqie 昨先切
Baxter dzen
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang
Shangfang 		/d͡zen/
Pan
Wuyun 		/d͡zen/
Shao
Rongfen 		/d͡zɛn/
Edwin
Pulleyblank 		/d͡zɛn/
Li
Rong 		/d͡zen/
Wang
Li 		/d͡zien/
Bernard
Karlgren 		/d͡zʱien/
Expected
Mandarin
Reflex 		qián
Expected
Cantonese
Reflex 		cin4
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character 前
Reading # 1/1
Modern
Beijing
(Pinyin) 		qián
Middle
Chinese 		‹ dzen ›
Old
Chinese 		/*ˁen/ (~ *m-dzˁen)
English before

Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system:

* Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence;
* Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. * as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p;
* Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix;
* Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary;

* Period "." indicates syllable boundary.
Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character 前
Reading # 1/1
No. 10256
Phonetic
component 		前
Rime
group 		元
Rime
subdivision 		2
Corresponding
MC rime 		前
Old
Chinese 		/*zleːn/

Definitions

前

  1. front; forepart
    前方  ―  qiánfāng  ―  the front
    前門／前门  ―  qiánmén  ―  front door
    往前走  ―  wǎng qián zǒu  ―  to move forward
    房子前有一棵樹。 [MSC, trad.]
    房子前有一棵树。 [MSC, simp.]
    Fángzi qián yǒu yī kē shù.
    There is a tree in front of the house.
    Antonym: 後／后 (hòu)
  2. ago; before
    以前  ―  yǐqián  ―  previously; ago
    前幾天／前几天  ―  qián jǐ tiān  ―  the other day
    史前時代／史前时代  ―  shǐqián shídài  ―  prehistoric times
    我習慣吃飯前先喝湯。 [MSC, trad.]
    我习惯吃饭前先喝汤。 [MSC, simp.]
    Wǒ xíguàn chīfàn qián xiān hētāng.
    I'm used to having soup before my meal.
  3. past; previous; former; earlier
    前任  ―  qiánrèn  ―  predecessor
    前副總統／前副总统  ―  qián fùzǒngtǒng  ―  ex-vice president
    前功盡棄／前功尽弃  ―  qiángōngjìnqì  ―  all the previous effort is wasted
    前漢／前汉  ―  qiánhàn  ―  the Former (Western) Han
  4. top; foremost; leading
    前三名  ―  qián sān míng  ―  top three
  5. future; time ahead
    前程  ―  qiánchéng  ―  future; prospects
  6. to move forward
    勇往直前  ―  yǒngwǎngzhíqián  ―  to advance bravely
  7. a surname

Usage notes

前 (qián) may refer to either the past or the future depending on one's perspective that is often implied by the context idiomatically. The set phrase 前天 (qiántiān) specifically refers to the day before yesterday.

Compounds

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (前):
  • → Japanese: 前(ぜん) (zen)
  • → Korean: 전(前) (jeon)
  • → Vietnamese: tiền (前)

Etymology 2

For pronunciation and definitions of 前 – see 剪 (“to cut”).
(This character is an ancient form of 剪).

References

Japanese

Shinjitai 前
Kyūjitai
前󠄁
前+&#xE0101;?
(Adobe-Japan1)
前󠄃
前+&#xE0103;?
(Hanyo-Denshi)
(Moji_Joho)
The displayed kanji may be different from the image due to your environment.
See here for details.

Kanji

前

(grade 2 “Kyōiku” kanji)

  1. in front
  2. before

Readings

Compounds

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
前
まえ
Grade: 2
kun’yomi

From Old Japanese as a compound of 目 (ma, “eye”) +‎ 方 (pe1, “direction, -wards”). Ultimately from Proto-Japonic *mapia.

/mape1/ → /maɸe/ → /mawe/ → /maje/ → /mae/

Pronunciation

Noun

前(まえ) • (mae) ←まへ (mafe)?

  1. the front
    Antonym: 後ろ (ushiro)
    前(まえ)へ進(すす)む
    mae e susumu
    to advance forwards
    (literally, “to advance towards the front”)
  2. the past
    Antonym: 後 (ato)
    前(まえ)にも言(い)ったように
    mae ni mo itta yō ni
    as I've said before
    (literally, “just as I have said in the past”)
    • 1934, Torahiko Terada, ゴルフ随行記
      ずっと前(まえ)からＭ君(Ｍくん)にゴルフの仲間入(なかまい)りをすすめられ、多少(たしょう)の誘惑(ゆうわく)は感(かん)じているが、今日(きょう)までのところでは頑強(がんきょう)に抵抗(ていこう)して云(い)う事(こと)を聞(き)かないでいる。
      Zutto mae kara Ｍkun ni gorufu no nakama iri o susumerare, tashō no yūwaku wa kanji te iru ga, kyō made no tokoro deha gankyō ni teikō shite iu koto o kika nai de iru.
      M has invited me to join his golfing group for long, and I feel attracted to some extent, but I firmly rejected his invitation and remained unconvinced so far.
  3. previous
    Antonym: 次 (tsugi)
    前(まえ)の記(き)事(じ)
    mae no kiji
    previous entries

Suffix

前(まえ) • (-mae) 

  1. a portion, an amount
    六(ろく)人(にん)前(まえ)の御(ご)膳(ぜん)
    rokunin-mae no go-zen
    a banquet for six people
  2. ago
    三(さん)年(ねん)前(まえ)
    sannenmae
    three years ago
    ずっと前(まえ)からそう思(おも)ってた
    zutto mae kara sō omotteta
    I've thought that for ages
    (literally, “I've been thinking that way since forever ago”)
  3. makes place names that refer to the vicinity of a point of interest
    市(し)役(やく)所(しょ)前(まえ)
    Shiyakusho-mae
    near the city hall

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
前
さき
Grade: 2
kun’yomi
For pronunciation and definitions of 前 – see the following entry.
【先さき】1
before, previous
end, tip
earlier, the past
afterwards, the future
the destination of a motion or action
sequel
ahead, in front
(This term, 前, is an alternative spelling of the above term.)


Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
前
ぜん
Grade: 2
goon

From Middle Chinese 前 (MC dzen). Compare modern Mandarin 前 (qián).

Pronunciation

Counter

前(ぜん) • (-zen) 

  1. counter for irregularly shaped objects such as desks, armrests, and serving trays
  2. counter for kami and shrines

Prefix

前(ぜん) • (zen-) 

  1. the last, the previous
  2. pre- (of an era)

Suffix

前(ぜん) • (-zen) 

  1. (archaic) ago
    • 1924, Mimei Ogawa, “海の彼方”, in ある夜の星だち‎:
      まさしく、三年(さんねん)前(ぜん)に失(な)くしたおじいさんのくれたバイオリンでありました。
      Masashiku, sannenzen ni nakushita ojīsan no kureta baiorin de arimashita.
      It was truly the violin that he had lost three years ago, that the old man had given to him.
  2. (archaic) before
    • 1919, Susukida Kyūkin, “地獄の住人”, in 新茶話‎:
      今度(こんど)の戦争(せんそう)前(ぜん)、このロイド・ジョウジ氏(し)が田舎(いなか)へ往(い)って政治演説(せいじえんぜつ)をしていた事(こと)があった。
      Kondo no sensōzen, kono roido jōji shi ga inaka e itte seiji enzetsu o shiteita koto ga atta.
      Before this war, the forementioned Mr Lloyd George went to the countryside and gave a political speech.

Etymology 4

Kanji in this term
前
ぜ
Grade: 2
kan’yōon

Contraction of 御(ご)前(ぜ) (goze), itself a contraction of 御(ご)前(ぜん) (go-zen), an honorific form of address.

Pronunciation

Suffix

前(ぜ) • (-ze) 

  1. (rare) an honorific suffix added to a noun denoting a person
    尼(あま)前(ぜ)
    ama-ze
    (honorable) nun

References

  1. ^ Haga, Gōtarō (1914) 漢和大辞書 [The Great Kanji-Japanese Dictionary] (in Japanese), Fourth edition, Tōkyō: Kōbunsha, →DOI, page 301 (paper), page 200 (digital)
  2. ^ Shōundō Henshūjo, editor (1927), 新漢和辞典 [The New Kanji-Japanese Dictionary] (in Japanese), Ōsaka: Shōundō, →DOI, page 223 (paper), page 123 (digital)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典（新装版） [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 (in Japanese), Third edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: NHK Publishing, →ISBN
  6. ^ Kindaichi, Kyōsuke et al., editors (1997), 新明解国語辞典 (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN

Korean

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 前 (MC dzen).

Historical Readings
Dongguk Jeongun Reading
Dongguk Jeongun, 1448 쪈 (Yale: ccyèn)
Middle Korean
Text Eumhun
Gloss (hun) Reading
Hunmong Jahoe, 1527 앏 (Yale: àlp) 젼 (Yale: cyèn)

Pronunciation

Hanja

Korean Wikisource has texts containing the hanja:

Wikisource

前 (eumhun 앞 전 (ap jeon))

  1. Hanja form? of 전 (“front; before”).
  2. Hanja form? of 전 (“ex-; previous”).

Compounds

Compounds

References

  • 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典.

Vietnamese

Han character

前: Hán Nôm readings: tiền, tèn

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