前
in front · before
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of '止' (foot) and '舟' (boat). Standing at front of boat, advancing.
Symbolism
Progress, future, surface. Represents 'forward-looking' attitude.
Component Breakdown
䒑 + 刖
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
空前絶後
くうぜんぜつご
(so marvelous or horrible that it may be) the first and probably the last
手前味噌
てまえみそ
self-flattery; singing one's own praises
前後不覚
ぜんごふかく
unconsciousness; having no recollection of one's actions
前代未聞
ぜんだいみもん
unheard-of; unprecedented; unparalleled in history (unparallelled)
前途有望
ぜんとゆうぼう
promising future
前人未到
ぜんじんみとう
untrodden (region, field of study, etc.); unprecedented (discovery, achievement, etc.)
手前勝手
てまえがって
self-centered; self-centred; selfish
前途遼遠
ぜんとりょうえん
having a long way to go; having a long road ahead of one; being a long way off
前途多難
ぜんとたなん
having many difficulties in store; grim prospects
前途洋々
ぜんとようよう
with a rosy future; offering promising prospects
門前雀羅
もんぜんじゃくら
(a house) looking deserted with few visitors; sparrow net in front of the gate
史上空前
しじょうくうぜん
unprecedented in history; unheard-of; epoch-making
前虎後狼
ぜんここうろう
one calamity followed close on the heels of another; out of the frying pan into the fire; tiger in front, wolf in the back
前後矛盾
ぜんごむじゅん
self-contradiction; self-inconsistency
前程万里
ぜんていばんり
a bright (rosy) future awaiting one; having the world before one
前途多望
ぜんとたぼう
promising (rosy, bright) future; offering promising prospects
門前成市
もんぜんせいし
having a constant stream of visitors; being thronged with callers
匍匐前進
ほふくぜんしん
crawling forward (on one's stomach)
前言往行
ぜんげんおうこう
words and deeds of the people of yore
Proverbs & Idioms
前門の虎、後門の狼
ぜんもんのとら、こうもんのおおかみ
Tiger at the front gate, wolf at the back
Out of the frying pan into the fire
前車の覆るは後車の戒め
ぜんしゃのくつがえるはこうしゃのいましめ
The overturned front cart warns the rear
Learn from others mistakes
Poetry
五月雨や大河を前に家二軒
The rains of the fifth month — two houses facing a swollen river.
Anime & Manga
あの日見た花の名前を僕達はまだ知らない。
Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
A well-known work with 前 in its Japanese title.
呪術廻戦 死滅回游 前編
JUJUTSU KAISEN Season 3: The Culling Game Part 1
A well-known work with 前 in its Japanese title.
進撃の巨人 The Final Season完結編 前編
Attack on Titan Final Season THE FINAL CHAPTERS Special 1
A well-known work with 前 in its Japanese title.
私がモテないのはどう考えてもお前らが悪い!
WataMote: No Matter How I Look At It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular!
A well-known work with 前 in its Japanese title.
俺を好きなのはお前だけかよ
ORESUKI: Are you the only one who loves me?
A well-known work with 前 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
巴御前
Name contains 前
Tomoe Gozen was an onna-musha, a female samurai, mentioned in The Tale of the Heike.
Wikipedia前田利家
Name contains 前
Maeda Toshiie was one of the leading generals of Oda Nobunaga following the Sengoku period of the 16th century extending to the Azuchi–Momoyama…
Wikipedia板額御前
Name contains 前
Lady Hangaku was a onna-musha warrior, one of the few Japanese warrior women commonly known in history or classical literature.
Wikipedia静御前
Name contains 前
Shizuka Gozen , or Lady Shizuka, one of the most famous women in Japanese history and literature, was a shirabyōshi of the 12th century, and a…
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 前 mean in Japanese?
前 means in front, before.
How do you read 前?
On'yomi: ゼン (ZEN). Kun'yomi: まえ、-まえ (mae, mae).
How many strokes does 前 have?
前 has 9 strokes. Its radical is 刀 (knife).
Is 前 a good kanji for a tattoo?
前 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means in front, before. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:before