从前 (cóngqián) is an adverb meaning 'formerly' or 'in the past', referring to a time earlier than now—often unspecified and sometimes distant or nostalgic. The character 从 (cóng) means 'from' or 'since', and 前 (qián) means 'before' or 'front'; together, they literally convey 'from before', emphasizing temporal origin rather than duration or exact timing. It’s commonly used in storytelling, historical contexts, or personal reminiscence, especially at the beginning of sentences.

This word carries a slightly literary or narrative tone—it appears frequently in fairy tales ('从前，有一只小兔子...'), biographies, and casual conversation when recalling earlier life stages (e.g., childhood, previous jobs). Unlike more neutral terms like 以前 (yǐqián), 从前 often evokes a gentle, reflective, or even poetic sense of the past—not just chronology, but memory and change.