前脚 (qián jiǎ) — forward foot (in a step); (in the pattern 前脚…后脚…) no sooner A than B; just as A happened, B followed
Definition
Used almost only in the paired pattern 前脚…后脚… meaning 'no sooner A than B' — A and B happen back-to-back. The literal 'forward foot' sense is rare; treat this as a correlative pattern word.
noun
forward foot (in a step)(in the pattern 前脚…后脚…) no sooner A than Bjust as A happenedB followed
Examples
- 前脚，。Tā qián jiǎ gāng tà jìn jiā mén, hòu jiǎo jiù xià qǐ le dà yǔ.No sooner had he stepped into the house than it started to pour.
- 前脚。Zǒu lù shí zhù yì qián jiǎ hé yòu jiǎo yào xié tiáo.When walking, make sure your forward foot and right foot are coordinated.
- 前脚，。Wǒ qián jiǎ lí kāi bàn gōng shì, lǎo bǎn hòu jiǎo jiù dǎ diàn huà zhǎo wǒ.I had no sooner left the office than the boss called me.
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