前ぜん

noun, used as a prefix

last; previous; ex-; former

Attaches to nouns to mean the immediately preceding instance, person, or thing. Common with time words, titles, and roles.

• 前ぜん回かいの会かい議ぎで決きまったことです。

  It was decided at the last meeting.

• 彼かれは前ぜん社しゃ長ちょうです。

  He is the former president.

noun, used as a prefix

pre-

Used before era names or historical periods to mean 'pre-', e.g. 前近代 (premodern).

• 前ぜん近きん代だいの社しゃ会かい構こう造ぞうを研けん究きゅうしている。

  I am researching the social structure of premodern times.

noun, used as a suffix

before

Attaches after a noun to mean 'before' that event or point in time. Often used in formal or written contexts.

• 出しゅっ発ぱつ前ぜんにもう一いち度ど確かく認にんしてください。

  Please check once more before departure.

noun, adverb

before; earlier

Dated standalone noun/adverb meaning 'before' or 'earlier'. In modern Japanese, 前 (まえ) is far more common for this sense.

See also: 前 (まえ)

• ぜんにも申もうした通とおり、この計けい画かくは中ちゅう止しです。

  As I said before, this plan is cancelled.