前天 qián tiān
“the day before yesterday”
time word, noun2021 list level 1
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
前天 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 806: 前天 qiántiān — Level 3; official annotation 3 (名). PDF page 100
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 前天
前天 means “the day before yesterday” and is a time noun that normally comes before the verb or at the beginning of the sentence, without a preposition. Use it in patterns like 前天早上/晚上 and 前天 + verb. Do not confuse it with 前年, which means “the year before last.”
例句Example sentences
- 我前天去看了我的老师。wǒ qián tiān qù kàn le wǒ de lǎo shī.I went to see my teacher the day before yesterday.
- 前天晚上下了一场大雨。qián tiān wǎn shàng xià le yì chǎng dà yǔ.It rained heavily the night before last.
- 她前天刚从北京回来。tā qián tiān gāng cóng běi jīng huí lái.She just came back from Beijing the day before yesterday.
易混词Easily confused
前天vs前年
前年 means “the year before last,” while 前天 means “the day before yesterday.”