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前段階 (ぜんだんかい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

前ぜん段だん階かい

also: まえだんかい

Meanings

1

noun

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.

この計けい画かくはまだ前ぜん段だん階かいです。
This plan is still in the preliminary stage.
前ぜん段だん階かいとして、まず調ちょう査さを行おこないます。
As a first step, we will conduct a survey.

Written forms

前段階
- ぜんだんかい
  Standard kanji spelling; the reading ぜんだんかい is the most common.
- まえだんかい
  Alternate reading; less common and may be considered non-standard by some speakers.
まえだんかい

Kanji

前in front, before
段grade, steps, stairs

階storey, stair, counter for storeys of a building

Similar words

準じゅん備び段だん階かい
準備段階 emphasizes preparation, while 前段階 simply indicates a preceding stage without necessarily implying active preparation.
初しょ期き段だん階かい
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.

Etymology

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.