Translation guide
How to express that something comes before another thing in time, order, or position.
Describing an event, period, or action that happens earlier than another.
Used as a noun meaning 'before' or 'previous'. Often follows a noun or verb to indicate the preceding time.
Please read the materials before the meeting.
前の週に引っ越しました。
I moved the previous week.
Often used for 'previous' in time expressions like 'last week' or 'the previous month'. Can also mean 'ahead' or 'earlier'.
先週、京都に行きました。
I went to Kyoto last week.
先の会議で決まりました。
It was decided at the previous meeting.
Means 'just before' or 'immediately preceding'. Used for a very short time before an event.
出発の直前に電話がありました。
There was a phone call just before departure.
A formal pattern meaning 'prior to' or 'preceding'. Used in official or written contexts.
会議に先立って、資料を配布します。
Prior to the meeting, we will distribute the materials.
Referring to something that appears earlier in a list, text, or series.
The most common way to say 'preceding' in a sequence. Can modify nouns directly.
前のページを見てください。
Please look at the preceding page.
前の章で説明しました。
It was explained in the preceding chapter.
A more formal verb meaning 'to precede'. Often used in academic or technical contexts.
先行する研究を参照してください。
Please refer to the preceding research.
Literally 'one before', used for the immediately preceding item in a sequence.
一つ前の駅で降りてしまいました。
I got off at the preceding station.
Describing something physically in front of or before another thing.
Also used for physical position. Can mean 'in front of' or 'preceding' in a line.
前の車が急に止まりました。
The preceding car stopped suddenly.
彼は私の前を歩いていた。
He was walking ahead of me.
前 is the general word for 'before' in time or order. 先 often means 'previous' in fixed time expressions like 先週 (last week) or 先月 (last month), but can also mean 'ahead' or 'the future'. Be careful: 先 can also mean 'tip' or 'destination'.
The opposite of 'preceding' is 'following', which is 次 (つぎ) or 後 (あと). Make sure to use the correct word for the sequence.
次の駅
the next station