noun / adverb HSK 4
in front of one's eyes · before one · at present · current
Meaning
眼前 literally means 'in front of the eyes' and refers to things that are physically before you or situations that are immediate and current. It can describe both concrete objects within your field of vision and abstract matters requiring immediate attention.
Usage
Native speakers use 眼前 to emphasize immediacy or proximity, both spatial and temporal. It appears in phrases like 眼前的问题 (current problems) or 摆在眼前 (placed right before one's eyes). The word often contrasts immediate concerns with long-term or distant matters.
Examples
- 01我们必须先解决眼前的问题。.We must first solve the problems at hand.
- 02眼前出现了一片美丽的湖泊。.A beautiful lake appeared before our eyes.
Characters
Common collocations
- 眼前的困难the difficulties at hand
- 摆在眼前placed right before one's eyes
- 眼前一亮eyes light up, be struck by something impressive
- 顾眼前focus only on immediate matters
Antonyms
Origin
The compound combines 眼 (eye) with 前 (front/before), creating a spatial metaphor that extends naturally to temporal and abstract immediacy.