also: まえだんかい
preliminary step; first stage
Refers to a stage or step that comes before the main action or process; often used in planning, development, or procedural contexts.
This plan is still in the preliminary stage.
As a first step, we will conduct a survey.
初期段階 refers to an early stage within a process, whereas 前段階 is a stage that comes before the main process begins.
Standard kanji spelling; the reading ぜんだんかい is the most common.
Alternate reading; less common and may be considered non-standard by some speakers.
Compound of 前 (zen, 'before') and 段階 (dankai, 'stage'). The reading まえだんかい is a less common variant using the kun'yomi of 前.