TongTong
Sign in

前方 (qián fāng) — the front; ahead

Definition

前方 means the space or direction ahead, often with a sense of distance or journey. Use it for 'ahead' in travel or military contexts; 前面 is the everyday word for 'in front.'

noun
the frontahead

Examples

  • 前方。
    qián fāng Yǒu hěn duō chē.
    There are many cars ahead.
  • 前方？
    Nǐ kàn qián fāng yǒu shén me?
    What do you see ahead?
  • 前方。
    qián fāng Méi yǒu rén.
    There is no one ahead.

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
方fāngdirection

前 (front) and 方 (direction) combine to denote the area ahead.

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 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 方 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4Directions

Browse more HSK 4 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.