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Kotomora

前

in front, before

JLPTN5StatusJōyō · grade 2FrequencyTop 100Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • ゼン

Kun'yomi

  • まえ
  • -まえ

Nanori

  • さき
  • さと
  • まい

Meaning

前 centers on spatial or temporal priority: being in front or before something else. The two senses are natural extensions of the same idea of precedence.

Most common words using 前

24 of 761
  • 前まえ
    N5

    in front (of); before (e.g. a building)

  • 前ぜん
    N2

    last (i.e. immediately preceding); previous; ex-; former

  • お前おまえ
    N3

    you

  • 名前なまえ
    N5

    name

  • 以前いぜん
    N3

    before; prior to; ago

  • 事前じぜん
    N2

    prior; beforehand; in advance; before the fact; ex ante

  • 前回ぜんかい
    N3

    previous time; last time; previous installment; previous instalment; previous session

  • 当たり前あたりまえ
    N3

    natural; reasonable; obvious

  • 前後ぜんご
    N3

    front and rear; front and back; before and behind; back and forth

  • 午前ごぜん
    N5

    morning; a.m.

  • 前半ぜんはん
    N3

    first half

  • 前提ぜんてい
    N1

    condition; assumption; prerequisite; hypothesis

  • 直前ちょくぜん
    N2

    just before; just prior to

  • 前日ぜんじつ
    N3

    previous day; day before; eve; prior day; preceding day

  • 駅前えきまえ
    N4

    in front of a station

  • 戦前せんぜん
    N1

    pre-war days; before the war

  • 手前てまえ
    N2

    before oneself; in front of one; nearby

  • 前年ぜんねん
    N1

    the preceding year; the previous year; last year

  • 寸前すんぜん

    just before; on the verge of; on the brink of

  • 人前ひとまえ
    N1

    presence of other people; (in) public; (in) front of others

  • 人前にんまえ

    portion of food

  • 前向きまえむき
    N2

    front-facing

  • 前者ぜんしゃ
    N3

    the former; the first

  • 前進ぜんしん
    N3

    advance; moving forward; progress

Explore all words using 前 →

Study

Etymology

前 is thought to combine 䒑 (a stylized form related to a foot or step) with 刂 (a knife or cutting tool), possibly suggesting cutting a path forward or advancing. The exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 䒑 looks like a pair of horns or a leading edge, and the bottom 刂 resembles a knife cutting a path. Imagine a pioneer cutting through brush to move in front of the group.

Reading mnemonic

For ゼン, picture a Zen master sitting in front of you, guiding you before you begin meditation: Zen -> ゼン.