午前

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 午前 is read as ごぜん and means the morning or the period before noon.
• Basic usage: It can mark a precise morning time or modify a class held during the morning.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Before a clock time
  • 午前九時 means nine before noon, or nine in the morning. Example: 図書館は午前九時に開きます。
• Modifying a morning activity
  • In 午前の授業, の connects the morning period to the class held then. Example: 午前の授業が終わったら食堂へ行こう。