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.
Every morning I walk past the front of the school on my way to work.
It's five minutes to three right now.
Even if you fail, let's keep looking ahead and do our best.
Please go back to the previous page and read it again.
I managed to get seats in the front row at the concert.
前 is the general word for 'front' or 'before', while 手前 specifically stresses the side or point nearer to the speaker.
後ろ means 'behind/back' in physical space, the direct opposite of 前's 'front' sense.
後 means 'after' in time, the opposite of 前's temporal sense of 'before'.
後 (ご) means 'after', while 前 (まえ) means 'before', marking the opposite time direction.
年後 (as in 5年後) means 'years later', while 前 (as in 5年前) means 'years ago', giving the opposite time direction.
前 means 'previous' or 'before', the direct opposite of 次, which means 'next' or 'following'.
前 means 'before' in time, the direct opposite of 後（のち）'s sense of 'later, afterwards.'
In time expressions 前 marks 'before' a given point (五時前), the opposite of 過ぎ's 'after' (五時過ぎ).
前 read ぜん is a formal prefix or suffix used in compounds like 前回, while 前 read まえ is the everyday standalone word for 'before' or 'front'.
you · before (a god, nobleman, etc.); in front of
name · given name; first name
natural; reasonable; obvious · usual; common; ordinary; the norm
in front of the station; station area
in front of oneself; the near side; nearby foreground · just before reaching; this side of a place · one's position; face; appearances; honour · skill; dexterity; artistry · tea-ceremony procedure; tea-making form · I; me · you
ability; skill; proficiency
paying one's own expenses; at one's own expense · self-employed; working independently; going into business for oneself
in advance; beforehand; ahead of time
handsome man; good-looking man · manliness; manly character
food delivery; outside catering
moving forward; acceleration; front-loading
public stance; official position; face · framework-raising ceremony
presence (of a god, emperor, etc.)
advance payment; prepayment; payment in advance
front tooth; incisor
preface; introduction; preamble
morning; forenoon · just before noon
front leg; foreleg; forefoot
advance sale; advance booking; advance purchase
advance warning; prior notice; prior announcement · harbinger; sign; omen; portent
innate; inherent; natural
pitching forward; leaning forward · proactive; forward-looking; positive · hasty; rushed; overly eager
generosity; liberality; openhandedness
rank-and-file wrestlers in the top division
chef; cook · chopping board area
advance payment; money paid in advance