前 — Kanji Reference
前 (before, front): 9 strokes, JLPT N5. On: ゼン. Kun: まえ.
前
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Meaning | before, front |
| Strokes | 9 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
| On-reading (音読み) | ゼン |
| Kun-reading (訓読み) | まえ |
| Radical | 刂 (Rittō - sword/knife) |
Stroke Order
The kanji 前 is written in 9 strokes. The standard order is:
- Stroke 1: The top left dot (丷).
- Stroke 2: The top right dot (丷).
- Stroke 3: The horizontal stroke of the middle component.
- Stroke 4: The vertical stroke of the middle component.
- Stroke 5: The horizontal stroke forming the top of the "moon" (月) shape.
- Stroke 6: The vertical stroke of the "moon" shape.
- Stroke 7: The horizontal stroke of the "moon" shape.
- Stroke 8: The final horizontal stroke of the "moon" shape.
- Stroke 9: The vertical stroke of the radical (刂).
Radical Analysis
The kanji 前 is a complex character. While it is classified under the 刂 (Rittō) radical, it is composed of:
- Top (丷/䒑): A variant of the character for "grass" or "horns," often representing the top of the character.
- Middle (月): Represents the "flesh" or "moon" component.
- Bottom/Right (刂): The rittō (sword) radical.
Historically, the character depicts a sacrificial knife (刂) used in a ritual, with the upper parts representing the object being prepared. Over time, the meaning evolved to signify "being in front" or "before."
Mnemonic
Imagine a moon (月) rising above the horizon. You are standing in front (前) of a samurai who is holding his sword (刂) to guide you. You must stand before the blade to see the path ahead.
On-readings (音読み) with Examples
ゼン (Zen)
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 前半 | 前半 (ぜんはん) | zenhan | first half |
| 前進 | 前進 (ぜんしん) | zenshin | advance/progress |
| 前日 | 前日 (ぜんじつ) | zenjitsu | the previous day |
| 前者 | 前者 (ぜんしゃ) | zensha | the former |
Kun-readings (訓読み) with Examples
まえ (Mae)
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 名前 | 名前 (なまえ) | namae | name |
| 前もって | 前もって (まえもって) | maemotte | in advance |
JLPT N5 Words Using 前
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English | JLPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 前 | 前 (まえ) | mae | front/before | N5 |
| 名前 | 名前 (なまえ) | namae | name | N5 |
| 午前 | 午前 (ごぜん) | gozen | a.m. | N5 |
| 前半 | 前半 (ぜんはん) | zenhan | first half | N4 |
| 前日 | 前日 (ぜんじつ) | zenjitsu | previous day | N4 |
| 前進 | 前進 (ぜんしん) | zenshin | advance | N3 |
| 前方 | 前方 (ぜんぽう) | zenpō | ahead/front | N3 |
| 前後 | 前後 (ぜんご) | zengo | front and back | N4 |
| 前者 | 前者 (ぜんしゃ) | zensha | the former | N3 |
| 前夜 | 前夜 (ぜんや) | zenya | the night before | N3 |
Example Sentences
| Japanese | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 駅の前にいます。 | 駅(えき)の前(まえ)にいます。 | Eki no mae ni imasu. | I am in front of the station. |
| 午前九時に起きました。 | 午前(ごぜん)九時(くじ)に起(お)きました。 | Gozen kuji ni okimashita. | I woke up at 9:00 a.m. |
| 名前を教えてください。 | 名前(なまえ)を教(おし)えてください。 | Namae o oshiete kudasai. | Please tell me your name. |
| 前もって準備します。 | 前(まえ)もって準備(じゅんび)します。 | Maemotte junbi shimasu. | I will prepare in advance. |
| 彼は前を向いて歩く。 | 彼(かれ)は前(まえ)を向(む)いて歩(ある)く。 | Kare wa mae o muite aruku. | He walks looking forward. |
Common Confusion Pairs
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning | How to distinguish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 前 | まえ | Front/Before | Contains the "moon" (月) component. |
| 崩 | ほう | Collapse | Has the "mountain" (山) component on top. |
| 剪 | せん | Prune/Cut | The top component resembles "field" (田). |
Usage Frequency Note
前 is one of the most frequently used kanji in the Japanese language. It is essential for daily communication, appearing in time expressions (午前 - gozen), spatial directions, and abstract sequences.