How common it is
前年 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
Guest access
Guests can browse all words. Sign in or create an account to save progress and unlock more practice.
Pronunciation focus
Say qián nián slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
前年用于描述两年前的时间。例如，如果你想知道某件事情发生在去年之前的一年，就可以用前年来表示。
qián nián yòng yú miáo shù liǎng qián nián de shí jiān 。rú kě ， nǐ ruò xiǎng zhī dào mǒ xiē shì qing fàng sònɡ zài qù nián qian yí nián ， jiù kě yòng qián nián lái biǎoshì 。
前年 is used to describe the time two years ago. For example, if you want to know when something happened a year before last year, you can use 前年 to indicate it.
Context note
前年常用于描述过去的事件或变化。例如，谈论家庭成员的变化、学业成绩的提升等。
qián nián cháng yòng yú miáo shù guò qù de dìng jiàn huò biàn huàn 。rú kě ， tán lùn jiā tíng yuán yuán de biàn huàn 、 xué yè jī chénɡ de tían píng ɡōnɡ 。
前年 is often used to describe past events or changes. For example, discussing the changes in family members or academic achievements.
5 examples
去年我买了一辆新车，前年买的那辆车已经卖掉了。
qù nián wǒ mǎi le yí liàng xīn chē， qián nián mǎi de nà liàng chē yǐ jīng mài diào le。
Last year I bought a new car, and the one I bought two years ago has already been sold.
前年的这个时候，我们还在度假。
qián nián de zhè ge shí hòu， wǒ men hái zài dù jià。
At this time last year, we were still on vacation.
我去年的体重比前年轻了5公斤。
wǒ qù nián de tǐ zhòng bǐ qián nián qīng le 5 gōng jīn。
My weight last year was 5 kilograms lighter than the year before last.
前年的这个时候，天气还很冷。
qián nián de zhè ge shí hòu， tiān qì hái hěn lěng。
At this time last year, it was still very cold.
我去年的生日派对比前年的小一点。
wǒ qù nián de shēng rì pài duì bǐ qián nián de xiǎo yì diǎn。
Last year's birthday party was smaller than the one two years ago.
5 mini stories
小明前年去了一趟北京，他说那里的变化真大。
xiǎo míng qián nián qù le yí tàng běi jīng， tā shuō nà lǐ de biàn huà zhēn dà。
Xiaoming went to Beijing two years ago, and he said there were big changes there.
去年我们全家一起去旅行了，但是前年我们只去了一个地方。
qù nián wǒ men quán jiā yì qǐ qù lǚ xíng le， dàn shì qián nián wǒ men zhī qù le yí gè dì fāng。
Last year we all went on a trip together, but we only visited one place the year before last.
我前年的生日愿望是想要一辆自行车，今年实现了。
wǒ qián nián de shēng rì yuàn wàng shì xiǎng yào yí liàng zì xíng chē， jīn nián shí xiàn le。
My wish for my birthday two years ago was to get a bicycle, and it came true this year.
去年我们家买了新房子，但是前年还在租房住。
qù nián wǒ men jiā mǎi le xīn fáng zi， dàn shì qián nián hái zài zū fáng zhù。
Last year we bought a new house, but we were still renting before that.
我前年的暑假比去年的长一些。
wǒ qián nián de shǔ jià bǐ qù nián de cháng yì xiē。
My summer vacation two years ago was longer than last year's.