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提前 (tí qián) — to bring forward (a date or time); to do something ahead of schedule; in advance

Definition

提前 means to move something to an earlier time — used as a verb with an object (提前出发 'leave early'). 预先 is more formal/written for preparatory actions; 先 is an adverb meaning 'first/before others'.

verb
to bring forward (a date or time)to do something ahead of schedulein advance

Examples

  • 提前。
    Wǒ men tí qián kāi shǐ huì yì ba.
    Let's start the meeting early.
  • 提前。
    Tā tí qián gào sù wǒ men zhè ge hǎo xiāo xi.
    He told us the good news in advance.
  • 提前。
    Huǒ chē tí qián dào le shí fēn zhōng.
    The train arrived ten minutes early.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

提tímove forward
前qiánahead

'提' moves something forward and '前' adds ahead, meaning to bring a time forward.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
是
是shì提tí
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

提 shows 扌 (hand) beside 是, which gives the pronunciation.

Open 提 →

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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