前

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: Spelling: 前. Reading: まえ. Core meaning: front; before.
• Basic usage: Representative examples: 駅の前で友人を待っています / 三日前に借りた本を返した.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Space and time
  • After a place, 前 refers to the area in front; after a duration or date expression, it means that far before or ago. First identify whether the reference point is spatial or temporal.