目前
mù qián · HSK 3
at the present time
⏳ 目前 = eye (目) + front (前), what's before your eyes = right now
目 means eye; 前 means front or before. Together: what is in front of the eyes, i.e. the present moment. Common in formal speech and writing for currently or at this stage.
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.