かねて

か

ね

て

Common wordJLPTN1

Meanings

1

adverb, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

previously; already; for some time

usually written using kana alone

Indicates that something has been the case or has been planned from an earlier point in time. Often used in formal or written contexts.

かねてより計けい画かくしていた旅りょ行こうに、ようやく出しゅっ発ぱつした。

We finally set off on the trip we had been planning for some time.

彼かれはかねてからの夢ゆめだった医い者しゃになった。

He became a doctor, which had been his dream for a long time.

Usage patterns

かねて〈動どう詞し〉ているto have long been doing/planning something
かねて計けい画かくしていた海かい外がい出しゅっ張ちょうがついに実じつ現げんした。
The overseas business trip I had been planning for some time finally happened.
かねての〈事こと〉a long-standing (plan, wish, concern, etc.)
かねての懸け念ねんがついに現げん実じつとなった。
The long-standing concern finally became reality.
かねてご案あん内ないの通とおりas previously announced/informed (formal notice)
かねてご案あん内ないの通とおり、来らい月げつより価か格かくを改かい定ていいたします。
As previously announced, we will revise our prices starting next month.

Expressions

かねてからfor some time now; for quite a while; already
かねてよりpreviously; already; for some time

Kanji

予beforehand, previous, myself
兼concurrently, and, beforehand

Related words· 6

以い前ぜんN3
以前 is a general, neutral word for 'before' or 'previously', while かねて specifically stresses that something has been true or intended since an earlier time and is more formal/written.
前まえもってN2
前もって means 'in advance', focusing on preparation before an event, whereas かねて states that a fact or plan has already existed for some time.
常つね々づね
常々 emphasizes a habitual or repeated state ('all along, constantly'), while かねて emphasizes that a single plan or fact has existed since an earlier point in time.
前まえ々まえ
かねて is a formal, somewhat literary way to say 'from before,' whereas 前々 is casual and more commonly paired with から in everyday speech.

Show 2 more

かねがねN1
かねて and かねがね both mean 'for some time now' in formal writing, but かねて is slightly more common in written business Japanese while かねがね is often paired with verbs of hearing or thinking.
ついでにN3
兼ねて means combining two purposes into a single trip or act, while ついでに frames one action as an extra add-on to another that's already happening.

Written forms

かねてUsage98%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 予て and 兼ねて are less common.
予かねてUsage2%
Kanji form; rarely used in modern writing.
兼かねて
Kanji form; rarely used in modern writing.

Etymology

Derived from the verb 兼ねる (かねる, 'to combine' or 'to serve as both'), with the sense of something being held or intended concurrently over time. The exact historical development is uncertain.