生前

shēngqián

noun HSK 7 #7,789

Meanings

Tā shēngqián shì yī wèi zhùmíng de huàjiā.

He was a famous painter during his lifetime.

Zhè shì tā shēngqián zuìhòu yī bù zuòpǐn.

This was the last work she created before her death.

usage

生前 is only used to refer to someone who has already passed away. It cannot be used for living people.

memory

生 (life) + 前 (before) — before the end of life, i.e. while still alive.

生 shēng

前 qián