摆在…面前
facing (someone); lying before (someone), of choices, problems or tasks
Structure
摆在 人／团体 面前的（是） 选择／问题／任务 ／ 选择／问题 摆在 人 面前
What it means
Facing someone: choices, problems or tasks laid out in front of a person who cannot step round them. 摆 is to lay out.
How it is built
摆在 + person + 面前的（是）+ choice / problem: 摆在她面前的是两条路 (two roads lie before her). Or problem + 摆在 + person + 面前.
When to use it
News features and speeches, often with a number (两条路, 三大难题). Only abstract things: 路, 选择, 难题, 任务, 挑战; a real object is 放在…前面. With the person as subject, use 面对: 她面对两种选择.
Watch out
Keep 的 before 是: ✗ 摆在她面前是两条路 ✓ 摆在她面前的是两条路. Do not put 面对 or 对于 in the 摆在 slot.
Examples
摆在她面前的是两条路：签，就得放下考研；不签，这个梦寐以求的岗位就会让给别人。
Two roads lie before her: sign, and she has to give up the exam; don’t, and the job she has longed for will go to someone else.
摆在这届毕业生面前的头号难题，是岗位少、人数多。
The biggest problem facing this year’s graduates is too few jobs for too many people.
没钱、没人、没订单，一大堆难题摆在这家小公司面前。
No money, no staff, no orders: a whole pile of problems lies before the little company.
Learn this in Lesson 180 · HSK 7–9: 毕业生的两条路 (Graduates at the crossroads)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
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