Usage note
眼前表示现在看到的地方，也表示眼下。
yǎn qián biǎo shì xiàn zài kàn dào de dì fāng， yě biǎo shì yǎn xià。
眼前 means right in front of the eyes, or right now.
Context note
眼前常用于现在、近处和当下。
yǎn qián cháng yòng yú xiàn zài 、 jìn chù hé dāng xià。
眼前 is often used with the present, nearby things, and the current moment.
5 examples
眼前的路很清楚。
yǎn qián de lù hěn qīng chǔ。
The road in front is clear.
先解决眼前的问题。
xiān jiě jué yǎn qián de wèn tí。
Solve the immediate problem first.
他看着眼前的风景。
tā kàn zhuó yǎn qián de fēng jǐng。
He looked at the scenery before him.
眼前这件事最重要。
yǎn qián zhè jiàn shì zuì zhòng yào。
This matter in front of us is the most important.
不要只看眼前。
bú yào zhī kàn yǎn qián。
Do not only look at the present.
5 mini stories
眼前的问题先处理。
yǎn qián de wèn tí xiān chǔ lǐ。
Handle the problem in front of you first.
他看着眼前的食物，觉得很香。
tā kàn zhuó yǎn qián de shí wù， jué de hěn xiāng。
He looked at the food in front of him and thought it smelled good.
眼前的一切都很安静。
yǎn qián de yí qiè dōu hěn ān jìng。
Everything before our eyes was quiet.
老师提醒我们要关注眼前的任务。
lǎo shī tí xǐng wǒ men yào guān zhù yǎn qián de rèn wu。
The teacher reminded us to focus on the task at hand.
先把眼前的事做好。
xiān bǎ yǎn qián de shì zuò hǎo。
First do the things right in front of you well.
Mini dialogue
专心学习
A
别看电视了，眼前最重要的是写作业。
Bié kàn diànshì le, yǎnqián zuì zhòngyào de shì xiě zuòyè.
Stop watching TV, the most important thing at present is to do your homework.
B
好的，我明白了。
Hǎo de, wǒ míngbai le.
Okay, I understand.
眼前的美景
A
你看，眼前的风景多美啊！
Nǐ kàn, yǎnqián de fēngjǐng duō měi a!
Look, the scenery right in front of us is so beautiful!
B
是啊，眼前的大山和湖水都很好看。
Shì a, yǎnqián de dà shān hé hú shuǐ dōu hěn hǎokàn.
Yes, the big mountains and lake water right in front of us are very beautiful.
Related words and contrasts
similar
目前
mùqián
at present; currently
目前 is a common way to say 'at the present time', similar to 眼前.
similar
现在
xiànzài
now
现在 means 'now' and is more general; 眼前 often implies 'right before one's eyes'.
opposite
将来
jiānglái
future
将来 means 'in the future', the opposite of 眼前 (at present).
contrast
面前
miànqián
in front of
面前 refers to a physical location 'in front of', while 眼前 can be about time or immediate sight.