前面 from HSK Level 3 Vocabulary List

The Chinese word 前面 (qiánmiàn) is composed of two characters: 前 (qián), meaning "front" or "before", and 面 (miàn), meaning "surface" or "face". Together, these characters form a compound word that means "in front of" or "ahead".The character 前 (qián) is derived from the oracle bone script, which is the earliest known form of Chinese writing. In the oracle bone script, the character 前 is depicted as a person standing with their arms outstretched in front of them. This image represents the idea of "going forward" or "advancing".The character 面 (miàn) is also derived from the oracle bone script. In the oracle bone script, the character 面 is depicted as a face with two eyes and a mouth. This image represents the idea of "seeing" or "looking".When the characters 前 (qián) and 面 (miàn) are combined, they form the compound word 前面 (qiánmiàn), which means "in front of" or "ahead". This word is used in a variety of contexts, such as:* 前面有一个人。(There is a person in front.)* 我走在前面。(I am walking in front.)* 前面就是商店。(The store is ahead.)The word 前面 (qiánmiàn) is a common word in Chinese, and it is important for HSK learners to understand its meaning and usage.