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前线 (qián xiàn) — front line (military); forefront, cutting edge (of an industry, technology, etc.)

Definition

前线 is 'the front line' — used literally for battle and figuratively for the leading edge of an industry or technology. Pairs with 一线 and 前沿 (frontier/forward position) but 前线 leans more military and workplace; 前沿 is preferred for science/technology.

noun
front line (military)forefrontcutting edge (of an industry, technology, etc.)
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • 前线。
    Zhàn shì men jiān shǒu zài qián xiàn.
    The soldiers held fast at the front line.
  • 前线。
    Tā zài shēng chǎn qián xiàn jiǎn chá zhì liàng.
    He checks quality on the production front line.
  • 前线。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī yì zhí zǒu zài jì shù qián xiàn.
    This company has always been at the technological forefront.

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qiánfront
线xiànline

前 and 线 join as the foremost line, extending to the cutting edge of work or technology.

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 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 線; 线 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
泉
泉quán線xiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 線 uses 糹 (silk/thread) to show the meaning and 泉 to suggest the sound; the simplified 线 is a later shorthand.

Open 线 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Military & Defense

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