JLPT N5 · 9 strokes
Kanji 前: "in front, before"
The kanji 前 means "in front, before". It is written with 9 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N5, read ゼン in on'yomi and まえ, -まえ in kun'yomi.
Stroke order
Strokes are written in the order of the numbers. The order is not decorative: it is what gives the character its balance, and it is also how handwriting search works in Japanese dictionaries.
Readings
On'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading)
ゼン
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
まえ-まえ
In a kun'yomi reading, the dot separates the kanji from its okurigana: かた.る is read かたる and written 語る. A hyphen marks a bound position, like -び in 日.
At a glance
| Meaning | in front, before |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 9 |
| JLPT level | N5 |
| Taught in Japan | grade 2 |
| Frequency rank | 27 of 2,501 |
Common words with 前
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 前in front (of); before (e.g. a building) · before; earlier; previously; prior
- 名前name · given name; first name
- お前you · before (a god, nobleman, etc.); in front of
- 目の前sous les yeux, juste devant soi · imminent, tout proche
- 以前before; prior to; ago · the past; before; previously; former times
- 当たり前natural; reasonable; obvious · usual; common; ordinary; commonplace
- この前l'autre jour, récemment, la dernière fois · avant, précédemment
- 直前just before; just prior to · right in front of; just in front of
- 手前before oneself; in front of one; nearby · a bit before reaching (a location); this side (of a location)
- 前後front and rear; front and back; before and behind; back and forth · before and after
- 事前prior; beforehand; in advance; before the fact
- 前回previous time; last time; previous installment; previous instalment
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