空前

kōngqián

adjective HSK 7-9 #13,184

Meanings

这场音乐会取得了空前的成功。

Zhè chǎng yīnyuèhuì qǔdé le kōngqián de chénggōng.

This concert achieved unprecedented success.

中国经济经历了空前的发展。

Zhōngguó jīngjì jīnglì le kōngqián de fāzhǎn.

China's economy experienced unprecedented development.

memory

空 (empty) + 前 (before) = empty before = nothing like it has existed before = unprecedented.

usage

Often paired with 绝后 to form the idiom 空前绝后 (unprecedented and unrepeatable). 空前 alone is common in news and formal writing.

空 kōng

前 qián