Translation guide
Expresses time before now. Japanese uses 前 (mae) after a time expression, or 前 (mae) with a verb in past tense. Word order differs from English.
three days ago
a long time ago
Attach 前 (mae) directly after a duration expression. The duration comes before 前, unlike English where 'ago' follows the duration.
I came to Japan three years ago.
He left five minutes ago.
Often used without に (ni) in casual speech or when the time expression is the topic.
That's a story from long ago.
Describe an action that occurred a specific time before another past event.
Use the past tense before 前 (mae) to indicate 'before doing something'. The main clause is also in past tense.
I studied Japanese before coming to Japan.
In English, 'ago' comes after the time word (e.g., 'three days ago'). In Japanese, 前 (mae) comes after the time word (e.g., 3日前). Do not say 'ago 3日'.
以前 (izen) also means 'before' or 'ago', but is more formal and often used in written language. 前 (mae) is the everyday word.
I lived in Tokyo before (some time ago).