Chinese–EnglishWith examples

先前

xiān qián · xian qian

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 5Old HSK 6

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. before; previously
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In a conversation

0:20 cartoon

The old teahouse

  1. Liangliang

    这家(zhèjiā)茶馆(cháguǎn)变(biàn)了(le)。

    This teahouse has changed.

  2. Dengdeng

    是(shì)啊(a)，先前(xiānqián)这里(zhèlǐ)没有(méiyǒu)这么(zhème)多(duō)人(rén)。

    Yes. Before, there were not so many people here.

  3. Liangliang

    先前(xiānqián)你(nǐ)常(cháng)来(lái)吗(ma)？

    Did you come here often before?

  4. Dengdeng

    常来(chánglái)，先前(xiānqián)我(wǒ)每个(měigè)周末(zhōumò)都(dōu)来(lái)。

    Yes, back then I came every weekend.

  5. Liangliang

    那(nà)现在(xiànzài)为什么(wèishénme)不(bù)来(lái)了(le)？

    Then why do you not come now?

  6. Dengdeng

    先前(xiānqián)人(rén)少(shǎo)，现在(xiànzài)要(yào)排队(páiduì)！

    Before, there were few people. Now you have to queue!

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

我(wǒ)们(men)先(xiān)前(qián)不(bù)知(zhī)道(dào)要(yào)怎(zěn)么(me)做(zuò)，所(suǒ)以(yǐ)才(cái)求(qiú)助(zhù)。

We didn't know how to do it, so we asked for help.

Tatoeba: Chinese by egg0073 · English by CM · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

02

他(tā)先(xiān)前(qián)住(zhù)在(zài)南(nán)方(fāng)，后(hòu)来(lái)才(cái)搬(bān)到(dào)这(zhè)座(zuò)城(chéng)市(shì)。

He previously lived in the south, and only later moved to this city.

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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