HSK 4
Correct
左右 vs 前后
/ zuǒyòu vs qiánhòu /
Strokes
/fit-in/684x0/img/202005/左右vs前后-Chinese-grammar-Cchatty-yyyy-1589851776.jpg)
Formula
1
Pronoun/Noun + 左右（前后）
2
Quantifier + 左右
3
A point in time + 前后
4
Time Noun + 前后
5
Verb + 前后
Definition
左右 and 前后 phrase, to express the [estimation, around, about]
1, 左右 refers to the left and right sides; 前后 refers to the front and back sides, here are their literal meaning
2, 左右 can also refer to an estimation in time or quantity
2.1 Quantifier + 左右, indicate the approximate number
3, 前后 only refers to a period of time, when indicating an estimation
3.1 A point in time + 前后, it refers to around a certain time
3.2 Time Noun + 前后, it refers to a short period of time before or after a festival
Example
左右 and 前后, their literal meaning
左: left
右: right
前: front
后: back
右: right
前: front
后: back
Pronoun/Noun + 左右（前后）
1
Tāmen
他们
liǎ
俩
zuò
坐
zài
在
wǒ
我
(
de
的
)
zuǒyòu
左右
。
They are sitting on my left side and right side.
2
Tāmen
他们
liǎ
俩
zuò
坐
zài
在
wǒ
我
(
de
的
)
qiánhòu
前后
。
They are sitting before me and behind me.
左右 can also refer to an estimation in time or quantity
Quantifier + 左右
3
Wǒ
我
qī
七
diǎn
点
zuǒyòu
左右
qǐchuáng
起床
。
I get up around 7 o'clock.
4
Tā
他
30
30
suì
岁
zuǒyòu
左右
。
He was about 30 years old.
前后 only refers to a period of time when indicating an estimation - 1
A point in time + 前后, It refers to around a certain time
A point in time + 前后
5
Qī
七
diǎn
点
qiánhòu
前后
(
zuǒyòu
左右
)
,
rénmen
人们
dōu
都
qù
去
shàngbān
上班
le
了
。
People go to work around 7 o'clock.
前后 only refers to a period of time when indicating an estimation - 2
Time Noun + 前后, It refers to a short period of time before or after a festival or a solar term.
Time Noun + 前后
6
Shèngdànjié
圣诞节
qiánhòu
前后
,
jiēshang
街上
hěn
很
rènao
热闹
。
The streets come alive around Christmas.
7
Chūnjié
春节
qiánhòu
前后
,
hěnduō
很多
rén
人
chūqù
出去
lǚyóu
旅游
。
Many people go travelling around Spring Festival.
前后 only refers to a period of time when indicating an estimation - 3
Verb + 前后, refers to a short period of time before or after an event.
Verb + 前后
8
Bìyè
毕业
qiánhòu
前后
,
wǒmen
我们
yīqǐ
一起
chī
吃
guò
过
liǎng
两
cì
次
fàn
饭
。
We had lunch together twice before and after graduation.
9
Jiéhūn
结婚
qiánhòu
前后
,
tāmen
他们
shōudào
收到
le
了
hěnduō
很多
lǐwù
礼物
。
They received many gifts before and after their wedding.
前后 only refers to a period of time when indicating an estimation - 4
前后, It refers to the period of time from the beginning to the end.
10
Tā
她
de
的
yīshēng
一生
zhōng
中
,
qiánhòu
前后
qù
去
le
了
zhōngguó
中国
wǔ
五
cì
次
。
(
qián
前后
hòu
指
zhǐ
一生
yī
的
shēngde
时间
shí
里
jiān
)
She went to China in during her lifetime. (前后 means the period of time from the beginning to the end of her life, that is, during her lifetime. )
11
Shàng
上
yánjiūshēng
研究生
de
的
shíhou
时候
,
tā
她
qiánhòu
前后
xiě
写
le
了
èrshí
二十
duō
多
piān
篇
lùnwén
论文
。
(
"
qiánhòu
前后
"
zhǐ
指
shàng
上
yánjiūshēng
研究生
de
的
shíjiān
时间
lǐ
里
)
She wrote 20 papers when she took her postgraduate studies. (前后 refers to the period of time when she took her postgraduate studies.)
Exercise
Fill in the blanks with 前后 or 左右, and both are correct in some cases.
1. 马路（ ）两边都是树。
2. 太阳表面的温度是6000°C（ ）。
3. “清晨"是日出（ ）的一段时间。
4. 超市10 点（ ）关门。
5. 这只小狗的（ ）腿都受伤了。
6. A：飞机还有多长时间起飞？ B：20分钟（ ）。
7. 准备这样的晚会, 需要10天（ ）的时间.
8. 美国影星伊丽莎白.泰勒（Yī lì shā bái. tài lè , Elizabeth Taylor) 的一生中，（ ）结了8次婚。