提前

tíqián · HSK 3

shift to an earlier date

⏰ 提 = lift/raise + 前 = front/before → lift forward in time

提 means to lift or bring up; 前 means front or before. Together they mean to bring something forward in time, i.e. move it to an earlier date or do it ahead of schedule.

提 — hand radical 扌 + 是 (phonetic)
提 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The hand radical 扌 gives the meaning, since the character originally referred to lifting or carrying something by hand. The right side 是 supplies the sound. From 'lift up' it extended to 'raise (an issue),' 'mention,' and 'bring forward.'

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.

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