Meaning of 当前
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- the present time
- to be faced with
How to use 当前
当前 is a fairly formal word used in news, reports and serious discussion, often before a noun like 形势 (situation) or 问题 (problem). It can also mean "to be faced with," as in 大敌当前 (a great enemy is before us). Example: 当前的主要任务是提高质量。(Dāngqián de zhǔyào rènwu shì tígāo zhìliàng.) The main task at present is to improve quality.
当 (dāng) means "at, facing" and 前 (qián) means "front." What is right in front of you now is the present moment, so 当前 is "the current situation."
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 当前 (the present) with 当时 (dāngshí, at that time in the past), which point in opposite directions in time. Also keep 当 in the first tone here, not the fourth tone dàng used in words like 上当.
当前 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
当 dāng · to be · 6 strokes
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前 qián · front · 9 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 当前.
| 前天 | qiántiān | the day before yesterday |
| 前边 | qiánbian | front; the front side |
| 以前 | yǐqián | before; formerly |
| 当时 | dāngshí | then; at that time |
| 面前 | miànqián | in front of; facing |
| 前年 | qiánnián | the year before last |
| 当然 | dāngrán | only natural; as it should be |
| 目前 | mùqián | at the present time; currently |
| 前面 | qiánmiàn | ahead; in front |
| 相当 | xiāngdāng | equivalent to; appropriate |
| 前进 | qiánjìn | to go forward; to forge ahead |
| 前往 | qiánwǎng | to leave for; to proceed towards; to go to |
Questions about 当前
What does 当前 mean?
当前 (dāngqián) means "the present time; to be faced with" and is used as a noun and verb.
How do you write 当前?
当前 is made of 2 characters: 当 (6 strokes), 前 (9 strokes). That is 15 strokes in total.
Is 当前 an HSK word?
Yes. 当前 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 当前 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 当前 is written 當前.
What is the difference between 当前 and 现在?
现在 (xiànzài) is the everyday word for "now" and works in any conversation. 当前 is more formal and usually describes the present stage or situation, so it sounds natural in writing and news but stiff in casual talk.
Can 当前 go after a noun?
Yes, in the "to be faced with" sense it follows the noun, as in 大敌当前 (dàdí dāngqián) or 国难当前 (guónàn dāngqián). In the "present" sense it usually comes before the noun with or without 的, as in 当前形势 (the current situation).