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前辈 (qián bèi) — senior (a person with more experience or higher rank in a group or field); predecessor; forerunner; pioneer

Definition

Used to respectfully address a senior or pioneer in your field, like a mentor. Distinct from 长辈, which is family elders. Contrasts with 前任, the *person* who held a post before you.

noun
senior (a person with more experience or higher rank in a group or field)predecessorforerunnerpioneer
Measure word · 位

Examples

  • 前辈，。
    Zhè wèi qián bèi zài gōng sī gōng zuò le èr shí nián, jīng yàn fēi cháng fēng fù.
    This senior has worked at the company for twenty years and has very rich experience.
  • ，。
    Zuò wéi nián qīng yǎn yuán, tā jīng cháng xiàng qián bèi qǐng jiào biǎo yǎn jì qiǎo.
    As a young actor, he often asks seniors for acting tips.
  • 前辈，。
    Zhè xiē kē xué jiā shì rén gōng zhì néng lǐng yù de qián bèi, diàn dìng le lǐ lùn jī chǔ.
    These scientists are pioneers in the field of artificial intelligence, laying the theoretical foundation.

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qiánformer
辈bèigeneration

前 (former) and 辈 (generation) together mean an earlier generation or senior person.

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 輩; 辈 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jū
Sound part声符shēngfú
非
非fēi輩bèi
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 輩 pairs 車 (vehicle) with 非, which gives the sound; this describes 輩, not the simplified 辈.

Open 辈 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Social Roles & Status

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