Learn Kanji: 前 · kyoubenkyou

前

9 strokes

Frequency: 27

JLPT N4

Grade 2

Meanings

in front

before

Readings

On — Chinese-derived reading, usually for compounds

ゼン

Kun — Native Japanese reading, usually for standalone words

まえ

-まえ

Nanori — Specialized readings used in names

さき

さと

まい

Common Words

前

まえ

Freq #73

Common noun

in front (of); before (e.g. a building)

Examples

我が家の前には狭い庭があります。

There is a small garden in front of my house.

Common noun; Nouns which may take the genitive case particle 'no'; Adverb (fukushi)

before; earlier; previously; prior; ago; (minutes) to (the hour)

Examples

部屋に入る前に靴を脱ぎなさい。

Take your shoes off before you come into the room.

父は２年前に亡くなった。

My father passed away two years ago.

Common noun; Nouns which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

(the) front; frontal part; fore; head (e.g. of a line)

Examples

私はバスの前の席に座った。

I sat in the front of the bus.

Common noun

forward; ahead

Examples

まっすぐ前を見てください。

Look forward, please.

Common noun

(in the) presence (of); in front (of someone)

Examples

メアリーは他人の前でからかわれることに慣れていない。

Mary is not used to being made fun of in the presence of others.

Nouns which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

previous (e.g. page); prior (e.g. engagement); first (e.g. half); former (e.g. example)

Examples

私達の家の前の所有者はリバプールに引っ越した。

The previous owners of our house moved to Liverpool.

Suffix; After a noun or the -masu stem of a verb

portion; helping

Common noun

front (of one's body or clothing); breast (of a coat, kimono, etc.)

Examples

上着の前が合わなかった。

On him the coat did not meet in the front.

Common noun

privates; private parts

Examples

わぁあ〜〜っ！？隠してっ！前、隠してよっ！

M-my goodness!? Cover-up! Cover yourself up!

Colloquial; Common noun

criminal record; previous conviction; (a) prior

名前

なまえ

Noun

Freq #240

name

Examples

あなたの名前はリストからはずされた。

Your name was dropped from the list.

given name; first name

Examples

ああ、もしかして名前を呼ばれるのが恥ずかしいって？

Ah, could it be you're embarrassed to be called by your first name?

先

前

さき

先き

Noun

Freq #328

point; tip; end; nozzle

Examples

鉛筆の先が丸くなった。

The point of the pencil has become dull.

head (of a line); front

first; before; ahead (of)

Examples

二人の男のうち、背の高い方が先に出ていった。

The taller of the two men went out first.

(the way) ahead; beyond

Examples

ここから先には行けません。

You cannot go any farther.

Nouns which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

future

Examples

先の事など誰にも予想できない。

You never can tell what'll happen in the future.

Nouns which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

previous; prior; former; recent; last

Noun, used as a suffix

destination; address; place where you do something

Examples

で、電話してみたらしいんだけど、その電話先の相手ってのが問題だったのよ。

And so it seems she tried phoning but it's who was on the other end of that phone that was the problem.

rest (e.g. of a story); continuation; remaining part

Examples

それから先の話を聞きたい。

I'd like to know the rest of the story.

the other party

お前

おまえ

おまい

御前

Freq #449

Familiar; Male; Pronoun; Formerly honorific, now very informal

you

Examples

お前を娘の夫にしよう。

You shall be my daughter's husband.

おまえ only; Common noun

before (a god, nobleman, etc.); in front of

当然

とうぜん

《当前》

Freq #565

Nouns which may take the genitive case particle 'no'; Adjectival nouns or quasi-adjectives (keiyodoshi)

natural; right; proper; just; reasonable; appropriate; deserved

Examples

彼が息子の自慢をするのは当然だ。

It is only natural that he be proud of his son.

Adverb (fukushi)

naturally; as a matter of course; rightly; deservedly; justly; of course

Examples

ボルボ衝突したので、うちの車の方が当然ひどい目にあった。

In the collision with a Volvo, our car naturally got the worst of it.

目の前

めのまえ

Expression

Noun

Freq #581

before one's eyes; in front of one; under one's nose

Examples

この間ミュージカルに見に行ったんだけど、前から３列目でさ、もう憧れの人が目の前で、もう最高だったね。一段と彼を好きになった。

I was at a musical recently, in the third row. Seeing the actor I love up close like that made me feel more smitten with him than ever.

immediate; imminent; around the corner

以前

いぜん

已前

Freq #700

Noun, used as a suffix

before; prior to; ago

Examples

最善を尽くしますが、よくいっても木曜以前に終える事は出来ません。

I'll do my best, but I'll not be able to finish it before Thursday at best.

Common noun; Adverb (fukushi)

the past; before; previously; former times

Examples

以前はこの丘の上に城があった。

There used to be a castle on this hill.

前に

まえに

Adverb

Freq #780

ahead; before; ago

Examples

え、出かける前に、しっかりかぎをかけたんですね。

Really? I had locked it up before I went out.

当たり前

当り前

あたりまえ

～な Adj.

Noun

～の Adj.

Freq #938

natural; reasonable; obvious

Examples

我々は彼が成功したのは当たり前だと思った。

We took his success for granted.

usual; common; ordinary; commonplace; the norm

Examples

この問題はあたりまえのやり方では解決しない。

You cannot solve this problem in an ordinary way.

この前

このまえ

此の前

Freq #1930

Adverb (fukushi); Common noun; Nouns which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

the other day; previously; before; earlier; recently

Examples

私がこの前なくした時計は新品だった。

The watch I lost the other day was new.

Common noun; Adverb (fukushi)

last time

Examples

この前京都を訪れたのはいつでしたか。

When did you visit Kyoto last?

Nouns which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

last (Sunday, summer, etc.); previous (e.g. mayor, chapter); preceding

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