Usage note
面前表示在某人或某物前面的地方。
miàn qián biǎo shì zài mǒu rén huò mǒu wù qián miàn de dì fāng。
In front of means the area before a person or thing.
Context note
面前常出现在位置描述和动作说明里。
miàn qián cháng chū xiàn zài wèi zhì miáo shù hé dòng zuò shuō míng lǐ。
In front of often appears in location descriptions and action explanations.
5 examples
桌子面前有椅子。
zhuō zi miàn qián yǒu yǐ zi。
There is a chair in front of the table.
他站在我面前。
tā zhàn zài wǒ miàn qián。
He stands in front of me.
书放在我面前。
shū fàng zài wǒ miàn qián。
The book is placed in front of me.
请站到老师面前。
qǐng zhàn dào lǎo shī miàn qián。
Please stand in front of the teacher.
猫跑到门面前。
māo pǎo dào mén miàn qián。
The cat ran to the front of the door.
5 mini stories
老师站在我们面前，开始讲课。
lǎo shī zhàn zài wǒ men miàn qián， kāi shǐ jiǎng kè。
The teacher stood in front of us and started teaching.
我把作业本放在妈妈面前。
wǒ bǎ zuò yè běn fàng zài mā ma miàn qián。
I placed the homework notebook in front of Mom.
小狗坐在我面前，看着我。
xiǎo gǒu zuò zài wǒ miàn qián， kàn zhe wǒ。
The puppy sat in front of me and looked at me.
请站到黑板面前来。
qǐng zhàn dào hēi bǎn miàn qián lái。
Please stand in front of the blackboard.
他把礼物放到朋友面前。
tā bǎ lǐ wù fàng dào péng yǒu miàn qián。
He put the gift in front of his friend.
Mini dialogue
在桌子前
A
你的书在哪里？
Nǐ de shū zài nǎlǐ?
Where is your book?
B
就在你面前，你看。
Jiù zài nǐ miàn qián, nǐ kàn.
It's right in front of you, look.
不要害怕
A
我不敢在大家面前说话。
Wǒ bù gǎn zài dàjiā miàn qián shuōhuà.
I dare not speak in front of everyone.
B
别怕，我们都在你面前支持你。
Bié pà, wǒmen dōu zài nǐ miàn qián zhīchí nǐ.
Don't be afraid, we are all in front of you supporting you.
Related words and contrasts
similar
前面
qián miàn
in front; ahead
Both mean 'in front of'. 面前 often feels more immediate, like 'right before one's eyes'.
related
对面
duì miàn
opposite; across from
对面 means 'across from', while 面前 means 'in front of'.