前后
qiánhòu · HSK 3
around or about
⬅️➡️ 前 = front + 后 = back/behind; literally front-back, meaning around or altogether
前 means front/before, 后 means back/after. Together 前后 spans both ends — used for spatial front-and-rear, approximate time (around/about), or a total span (altogether).
前 — top 丷 + 一 + 月 (moon) + 刂 (knife)
Originally written 歬, depicting a foot 止 above a boat 舟, meaning to advance or go forward. Over time the form evolved and the knife radical 刂 was added, while 止 and 舟 fused into the modern shape. The core meaning 'front, before, ahead' has stayed consistent.
后 — 厂 cliff + 一 + 口 mouth
Originally depicted a ruler or sovereign issuing commands, showing a figure with a mouth giving orders. It came to mean 'queen' or 'empress.' In modern simplified Chinese, 后 also absorbed the meaning 'behind/after' from the traditional character 後, so context decides which sense applies.