上前 (shàng qián) — to step forward, to come forward (often to approach someone or something)

Definition

上前 means to step forward, usually toward a person or into a situation (to greet, attack, volunteer). It emphasizes deliberate movement forward, unlike the directional 去 which only indicates movement away from the speaker.

verb
to step forwardto come forward (often to approach someone or something)

Examples

  • ，上前。
    Kàn dào lǎo shī lái le, tā gǎn jǐn shàng qián xíng lǐ.
    When he saw the teacher coming, he hurried forward to bow.
  • ，。
    Tā zhī shàng guò yí cì qián, jiù zài yě bù gǎn le.
    He only stepped forward once and never dared again.
  • 上前。
    Shì bīng men tīng dào mìng lìng hòu lì kè shàng qián.
    The soldiers immediately stepped forward after hearing the order.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

上shànggo
前qiánfront

上 (go) and 前 (front) combine to mean move toward the front.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Open 上 →

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 →

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