• 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
• 前夜ぜんや — the night before

The kanji 前 originally combined the image of a cut piece of meat and the act of preparation — symbolizing something that comes before. Today, it’s used widely to describe both time and space: earlier events, previous moments, or something physically ahead of you. Interestingly, the top part may look like the “grass” radical, but it’s actually a stylized meat tray — not related to plants. Combined with the knife radical 刂, it reflects the idea of preparing something in advance.

前日ぜんじつに準備じゅんびを終おえました。
I finished preparing the day before.

彼かれは 私わたしの前まえに座すわっています。
He is sitting in front of me.

🎧 A pronunciation guide will be added soon. Please check back later!