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前后 (qián hòu) — front and back (spatial); before and after; the whole period (temporal); in total; approximately (used with time or counts)

Definition

前后 can mean physical 'front and back' (我家前后各有一棵树) or temporal 'before and after'. For 'in total' with numbers, 共 or 总共 is more precise.

noun
front and back (spatial)before and afterthe whole period (temporal)in totalapproximately (used with time or counts)

Examples

  • 前后。
    Wǒ jiā qián hòu gè yǒu yì kē shù.
    There is a tree in front and behind my house.
  • 前后。
    Huì yì qián hòu tǎo lùn le liǎng gè xiǎo shí.
    The meeting discussed for two hours before and after (the main event).
  • 前后。
    Tā qián hòu xiě le wǔ fēng xìn.
    He wrote five letters in total.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

前qiánfront
后hòuback

前 (front) and 后 (back) stand together to cover all around or beginning to end.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 後; 后 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 後 showed 夊 (foot) bound by 幺 (thread), a foot caught by a rope and lagging behind; the simplified 后 is a later abbreviation, and 后 also has a different meaning.

Open 后 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4DirectionsTime (Abstract)

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