前
Meanings
in front of; before (a place)
Physical location: the space or area directly in front of something. Often used with の or as a standalone noun.
There is a convenience store in front of the station.
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', adverb
before; earlier; previously; ago; to (the hour)
Temporal sense: a point in time earlier than now or a reference time. Also used in clock times for minutes before the hour.
Please wash your hands before meals.
It's ten minutes to three.
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
front; frontal part; fore; head (of a line)
The front part of something, such as a building, vehicle, or line. Can be used attributively with の.
Please line up toward the front of the line.
Directional sense: moving or facing toward the front. Often used with verbs of motion.
Please move forward.
in the presence of; in front of (someone)
Social sense: being in the presence of someone, often with a nuance of formality or respect.
I get nervous speaking in front of people.
Suffix attached to a noun or the -masu stem of a verb to indicate a portion or serving. Common in food contexts.
See also: 一人前
I ordered one portion of sushi.
front (of body/clothing); breast (of coat, kimono)
The front part of one's body or clothing. Often used in descriptions of garments or physical appearance.
I adjust the front of the kimono.
privates; private parts
Euphemistic or colloquial reference to the genital area. Often used in medical or informal contexts.
Cover one's private parts.
criminal record; previous conviction; prior
Colloquial term for a criminal record or prior offense. Often used in police or legal slang.
He has a prior conviction.
Usage patterns
- 〈場所〉の前を通るto pass by the front of a place
Every morning I walk past the front of the school on my way to work.
- 〈数〉時〈数〉分前X minutes before Y o'clock
It's five minutes to three right now.
- 前を向くto face forward; to look ahead (also figuratively, to stay positive)
Even if you fail, let's keep looking ahead and do our best.
- 前の〈物〉the previous one (page, example, item, etc.)
Please go back to the previous page and read it again.
- 前の列the front row
I managed to get seats in the front row at the concert.