前尘 (qián chén) — (literary) the past; bygone events; (Buddhism) previous existence; impurities of the sentient world

Definition

A literary word for 'the past / bygone events', often carrying a wistful or Buddhist sense of worldly dust and karma from a previous existence. Reads as formal and poetic, not everyday spoken Chinese.

noun
(literary) the pastbygone events(Buddhism) previous existenceimpurities of the sentient world

Examples

  • 前尘，。
    Huí shǒu qián chén, tā bù jīn liú xià le yǎn lèi.
    Looking back on the past, he couldn't help shedding tears.
  • 前尘。
    Fó jiào rèn wéi qián chén de yè lì huì yǐng xiǎng jīn shēng.
    Buddhism believes that the karma from previous existence affects this life.
  • 前尘，。
    Wǎng shì rú qián chén, suí fēng sàn qù.
    Past events are like former dust, scattered by the wind.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

前qiánpast
尘chéndust

前 (past) narrows 尘 (dust, worldly traces) to bygone events.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In the older form of 前, 止 (foot) and 舟 (boat) showed a foot on a boat moving forward; in the current 前 those parts are shortened.

Open 前 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 尘, 小 (small) sits above 土 (earth), giving the idea of tiny bits of earth.

Open 尘 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.