---
title: "Xianqian Meaning: 先前 (xiānqián) Means “before”"
description: "先前 (xiānqián) means “before; previously”. Hear its tones, see what 先 and 前 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/xianqian"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 先前 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

先前 xiānqián

## before; previously

## Its characters

1. 先 xiān first
2. 前 qián front

## In a sentence

他比先前胖了不少。 He has put on quite a bit of weight compared to before.

那龙立刻变作一匹白马，毛色与**先前**那匹一模一样。

From [白龙马 · The White Dragon Horse](https://mandarinthewild.com/library/read/the-white-dragon-horse-journey-to-the-west-advanced-chinese-12#library-word-899-901)

[More about 先前](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%85%88%E5%89%8D)

## More words with 先 or 前

- [此前 cǐqián](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/ciqian)
- [从前 cóngqián](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/congqian)
- [当前 dāngqián](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dangqian)
- [领先 lǐngxiān](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/lingxian)
- [面前 miànqián](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/mianqian)
- [目前 mùqián](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/muqian)
- [前辈 qiánbèi](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/qianbei)
- [前方 qiánfāng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/qianfang)
- [前后 qiánhòu](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/qianhou)
- [前进 qiánjìn](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/qianjin)

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