前

音読おんよみ: ゼン

訓読くんよみ: まえ

画数かくすう: 9

部首ぶしゅ: 刂(りっとう)

Meaning

Before / In front / Earlier

  • 午前ごぜん — morning / a.m.
  • 前日ぜんじつ — the previous day
  • 名前なまえ — name
  • 前方ぜんぽう — forward / ahead
  • 前回ぜんかい — last time
  • 前後ぜんご — before and after / around

The kanji 前 originally combines the idea of “in front” with “cutting / preparing,” which is why you see the knife radical 刂. Today it’s used constantly for both space and time: something in front of you (前), and something earlier (前日・前回・午前).

◀︎ Sayings+ ▶︎