front · before

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 前 has nine strokes: it is read まえ on its own and ぜん in 午前 and 前回.
• Basic usage: It indicates the front of a place or an earlier point in time.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Spatial and temporal reference points
  • It applies to both space and time, as in 駅の前, meaning in front of the station, and 三日前, meaning three days ago. Interpret it according to whether the preceding element is a place or a duration.
• Before noon and the previous occasion
  • 午前(ごぜん) is the period before noon, while 前回(ぜんかい) refers to the previous occurrence in a series.