前(qián)

HSK 19 strokes

front

Print a 前 worksheet PDFPractice writing 前

Stroke order animation

Character information

Pinyin
qián
Meaning
front; forward; ahead; first; top (followed by a number); future; ago; before; BC (e.g. 前293年); former; formerly
Strokes
9
HSK level
HSK 1
Traditional
Same

Origin & structure

Where 前 comes from and how its parts fit together.

⿱⿱丷一刖

Made of

丷bā一yī刖yuè

Parts are arranged top to bottom.

How to write 前 step by step

9 strokes — each frame adds one stroke, shown in dark ink over the lighter ones.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9

Words with 前

Common words using 前 — tap any character to open its stroke-order page.

yǐ以qián前
HSK 2

before

Open 以前 page →
zhī之qián前
HSK 4

before; prior to; ago; previously; beforehand

Open 之前 page →
xiān先qián前
HSK 5

before; previously

Open 先前 page →
qián前lái来
HSK 6

to come (formal)

Open 前来 page →
qián前bù不jiǔ久
HSK 7-9

not long ago

Open 前不久 page →
qián前yǎng仰hòu后hé合
HSK 7-9

to sway to and fro

Open 前仰后合 page →
qián前rèn任
HSK 7-9

predecessor

Open 前任 page →
shàng上qián前

to advance; to step forward

Open 上前 page →

Related characters

More HSK 1 characters

一七三上下不东两

From 前’s common words

以之先来不久仰后

Ready to master 前?

Trace 前 stroke by stroke in the online practice tool, or turn it into a printable worksheet PDF with Tianzige practice grids, pinyin, and stroke-order breakdowns.

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