Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
日前 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
日前rìqiánthe other dayHSK 6, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #22755, Hard
日前rìqiána few days agoHSK 6, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #22755, Hard
rìqián(ri4qian2)ri qian T4
  1. 1the other day
  2. 2a few days ago
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

日前rìqián(ri4qian2)

日前 (ri4 qian2) refers to a time period that is not far in the past, specifically 'the other day' or 'a few days ago.' It is commonly used in conversational and written contexts to refer to an event or occurrence that happened recently.

Strokes13Frequency#22755DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, discussing recent events using terms like '日前' highlights the importance of current happenings in social interactions, reflecting a collective memory of shared experiences.

Memory Tip

Think of 日 (rì), which means 'sun' or 'day,' shining brightly on the days that just passed. Imagine a calendar with days highlighted, reminding you of recent events, thus associating '日前' with recent past days.

Meanings of 日前

rìqián(ri4qian2)
1the other day
2a few days ago
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 日前 means.

About 日前

日前Simplified
13Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 日前

JasonAmy

Podcast: 日前

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 日前

Quick Contrast

最近 (zuìjìn) - use 日前 when referring to a specific event that happened a few days ago, while 最近 refers to a more general recent time period.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse '日前' with '前几天' (qian2 ji3 tian1), which means 'a few days ago' but can imply a longer time frame. This word is more informal, suitable for conversations or casual writing, but may not be appropriate in very formal contexts.

HSK Study Tips

While '日前' is not featured in the official HSK levels, it utilizes basic characters like 日 and 前 that appear in earlier levels. Students should focus on recognizing its usage in context, especially within conversational Mandarin.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '日前' with '前天' (qian2 tian1), which means 'the day before yesterday.' Remember that '日前' refers specifically to 'the other day' rather than a precise day in the past.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 日前

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 日前 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Jason Explains 日前 to You

Let me explain 日前 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 日前 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 日前?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 日前 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Component Characters

日rìsun
HSK 14 strokes日
View full entry
前qiánfront
HSK 19 strokes刂
View full entry

How to say the other day in Chinese

“the other day” in Chinese is日前rìqián

日前 (ri4 qian2) refers to a time period that is not far in the past, specifically 'the other day' or 'a few days ago.' It is commonly used in conversational and written contexts to refer to an event or occurrence that happened recently.

When to use 日前

Be cautious not to confuse '日前' with '前几天' (qian2 ji3 tian1), which means 'a few days ago' but can imply a longer time frame. This word is more informal, suitable for conversations or casual writing, but may not be appropriate in very formal contexts.

日前 or something close to it

最近 (zuìjìn) - use 日前 when referring to a specific event that happened a few days ago, while 最近 refers to a more general recent time period.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse '日前' with '前天' (qian2 tian1), which means 'the day before yesterday.' Remember that '日前' refers specifically to 'the other day' rather than a precise day in the past.

Write 日前

日
前

Practice writing 日前 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 日前?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Frequently Asked Questions about 日前

'日前我去了一家新餐厅' means 'The other day, I went to a new restaurant.'

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 日前?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab