also: まえさく
previous work; preceding work; previous title; previous release
Only with reading ぜんさく
Refers to a creator's earlier work, such as a previous book, film, album, or game. Commonly used in reviews and discussions of artists' output.
This film is said to be even better than the previous one.
This director's previous work was very well received.
You'll enjoy this new work more if you read the previous one first.
first crop; preceding crop
Agricultural term for the first crop grown in a double-cropped field, before the second crop is planted. Not commonly used in everyday conversation.
In this region, after growing wheat as the preceding crop, they plant soybeans.
The sequel is said to be more interesting than the previous work.
The protagonist who appeared in the previous work shows up again in this one.
新作 means the newest work a creator has released, the direct opposite of 前作, their previous one.
Standard kanji spelling for the common reading ぜんさく.
Alternate reading まえさく is less common and may be encountered in some contexts.
Compound of 前 (previous) and 作 (work, produce). The agricultural sense extends the idea of 'previous production' to crops.