先前

先前 means 'previous time' or 'earlier period.' It refers to a time before the current moment, often used to contrast with the present or to describe past events.

The character 先 (xiān) means 'before' or 'previous,' and 前 (qián) means 'in front' or 'before in time.' Together, they form a compound that literally translates to 'before time,' emphasizing the concept of prior occurrence.

在中文中，先前常用于叙述过去事件或描述过去的状况。例如，在讲述一个故事时，可以用来引出之前发生的事情。它也常与“现在”相对比，帮助明确时间线。