以い前ぜん

い

ぜ

ん

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 1,000

Meanings

1

noun, used as a suffix

Used after a time, date, period, or event to mean before or not later than that reference point, as in 2010年以前 or 入学以前. With durations it may be translated with 'ago,' though ～前 is often the simpler everyday wording.

この建たて物ものは2010年ねん以い前ぜんに建たてられた。
This building was built before 2010.

入にゅう学がく以い前ぜんのことはあまり覚おぼえていない。

I do not remember much from before I entered school.

2

noun, adverb

previously; before; the past; former times

Used as a noun or adverb for an earlier time or the past in general. Common in expressions such as 以前は, 以前の, 以前から, and 以前より.

以い前ぜん、京きょう都とに住すんでいました。
I used to live in Kyoto before.
以い前ぜんの住じゅう所しょを教おしえてください。
Please tell me your previous address.
彼かれは以い前ぜんより元げん気きになった。
He has become healthier than before.

Written forms

以い前ぜんUsage100%
Standard and common spelling.
已い前ぜん
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form given; use 以前 in ordinary writing.

Kanji

以by means of, because, in view of
前in front, before
已stop, halt, previously

Similar words

前まえ
More basic and conversational for 'before' or 'ago'; 以前 sounds a little more explicit or formal and often means 'before a reference point' or 'formerly.'
以い後ご
Opposite direction in time: 'after; from then on,' whereas 以前 means 'before; previously.'
以い来らい
Means 'since' a starting point and often implies continuation up to now; 以前 points to time before a reference point.
過か去こ
A noun meaning 'the past' more broadly; 以前 more often contrasts a specific earlier time with now or with another reference point.

Etymology

Sino-Japanese compound written with 以, marking a reference or limit, and 前, 'before; front.' The spelling conventionally expresses 'before a reference point.'