How common it is
前后 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say qián hòu slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
前后表示前面和后面，也表示时间先后。
qián hòu biǎo shì qián miàn hé hòu miàn， yě biǎo shì shí jiān xiān hòu。
Before and after means front and back, and it also means time order.
Context note
前后常出现在位置、顺序和时间里。
qián hòu cháng chū xiàn zài wèi zhì 、 shùn xù hé shí jiān lǐ。
Before and after often appears with location, order, and time.
5 examples
前后都有树。
qián hòu dōu yǒu shù。
There are trees in front and behind.
事情前后要想清楚。
shì qíng qián hòu yào xiǎng qīng chǔ。
Think through the matter before and after.
前后左右。
qián hòu zuǒ yòu。
Front, back, left, and right.
前后不一样。
qián hòu bù yí yàng。
Before and after are different.
他前后都看了看。
tā qián hòu dōu kàn le kàn。
He looked both in front and behind.
5 mini stories
我把前后都看了一遍，才过马路。
wǒ bǎ qián hòu dōu kàn le yí biàn， cái guò mǎ lù。
I looked both in front and behind before crossing the road.
老师说前后要连起来看，才会明白。
lǎo shī shuō qián hòu yào lián qǐ lái kàn， cái huì míng bái。
The teacher said we should look at the before and after together to understand.
这条路前后都有很多车。
zhè tiáo lù qián hòu dōu yǒu hěn duō chē。
There are many cars both in front and behind on this road.
事情前后我都记得很清楚。
shì qíng qián hòu wǒ dōu jì de hěn qīng chǔ。
I remember the matter clearly from beginning to end.
前后比较一下，就知道哪里需要改。
qián hòu bǐ jiào yí xià， jiù zhī dào nǎ lǐ xū yào gǎi。
Compare before and after, and you will know what needs to be changed.