front foot; immediately after; no sooner than
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 7 examplesnoun
front foot (the foot that steps forward first when walking)
Often contrasted with 后脚 (back foot). In some dialects, can take the 'er' suffix as 前脚儿.
Tā他
qián前
jiǎo脚
yī一
huá滑
，
zhěng整
gè个
rén人
dōu都
shuāi摔
dǎo倒
le了
。
His front foot slipped, and he fell completely.
Zǒu走
lù路
shí时
yào要
zhù注
yì意
qián前
jiǎo脚
luò落
dì地
de的
fāng方
shì式
。
When walking, pay attention to how your front foot lands.
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Qián前
jiǎo脚
r儿
gāng刚
mài迈
chū出
qù去
，
hòu后
jiǎo脚
r儿
hái还
méi没
gēn跟
shàng上
。
The front foot had just stepped out, and the back foot hadn't caught up yet.
adverb
no sooner than; immediately after; right after (often used in the structure 前脚...，后脚...)
Typically used in the pattern '前脚 [Action A]，后脚 [Action B]' to indicate that Action B happens immediately after Action A.
Wǒ我
qián前
jiǎo脚
jìn进
dà大
mén门
，
tā他
hòu后
jiǎo脚
jiù就
gǎn赶
dào到
le了
。
No sooner had I entered the gate than he arrived right after me.
Tā他
qián前
jiǎo脚
gāng刚
zǒu走
，
jǐng警
chá察
hòu后
jiǎo脚
jiù就
lái来
le了
。
He had just left when the police arrived immediately after.
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Lǎo老
bǎn板
qián前
jiǎo脚
xuān宣
bù布
jiā加
xīn薪
，
hòu后
jiǎo脚
jiù就
yǒu有
rén人
cí辞
zhí职
。
The boss had just announced a raise when someone resigned right after.
Qián前
jiǎo脚
hái还
zài在
shuō说
xiào笑
，
hòu后
jiǎo脚
jiù就
chǎo吵
qǐ起
lái来
le了
。
They were still chatting and laughing one moment, and arguing the next.