前面
in front; the front
qiánmiàn
What does 前面 mean?
前面 (qiánmiàn) is a position word meaning 'in front,' 'at the front,' or 'ahead' — literally 'front-face.' Like other Chinese position words, it functions as a noun and appears AFTER the thing it describes: 我前面 ('in front of me'), 学校前面 ('in front of the school'). It commonly pairs with 在 (zài) to form a prepositional phrase: 在我前面 ('in front of me').
前面 also has a secondary, sequence-based use: 'earlier on' / 'previously mentioned' in a text or talk — 前面说过 ('I mentioned earlier'). For 'in front of' a single object, 前面 is the safe default; the slightly more colloquial 前边 (qiánbian) works too. Note that 前面 is spatial and refers to position; for 'before' in time, use 以前 (yǐqián) instead.
Character breakdown
front; ahead; previous; before
face; side; surface (suffix in position words)
Memory hook: 'Front-face' — the side facing forward. If you face forward, 前面 is the direction your nose points.
Example sentences
他坐在我前面。
Tā zuò zài wǒ qiánmiàn.
He sits in front of me.
neutral
学校前面有一家商店。
Xuéxiào qiánmiàn yǒu yì jiā shāngdiàn.
There's a store in front of the school.
neutral
请你走在前面。
Qǐng nǐ zǒu zài qiánmiàn.
Please walk in front.
polite
前面就是地铁站。
Qiánmiàn jiù shì dìtiě zhàn.
The subway station is right up ahead.
spoken
Common phrases with 前面
Synonyms
前边 has the same meaning as 前面 — slightly more colloquial / spoken-flavored. 前面 is the safer, more neutral choice in writing and most speech.
前方 ('ahead / the direction in front') is more formal and often used for directions while driving, in announcements, or in military / written contexts. 前面 is the everyday word.
Don't confuse 前面 with
FAQ
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