【前】(zen, mae/ front, previous, before) Japanese Kanji / JLPT N5

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In this time, I will introduce the Kanji character 前.

How to read

① Onyomi (Chinese reading)

The on-readings are

・ぜん　zen

For example,

・以前　いぜん　i-zen
It means before, previous

・前進　ぜんしん　zen-shin
It means advance

・前日　ぜんじつ　zen-jitsu
It means previous day

and so on.

② Kunyomi (Japanese reading)

Next, the kun-reading is

・まえ　mae

For example,

・名前　なまえ　na-mae
It means name

・腕前　うでまえ　ude-mae
It means skill

・お前　おまえ　o-mae
It means you
formerly honorific, now sometimes derog. term referring to an equal or inferior
ブルータス、お前もか
A word of lamentation when one's most trusted opponent betrays one's trust. The ancient Roman hero Caesar is said to have uttered these words when he saw Brutus, whom he liked and trusted, among his opponents at the time of his assassination.

and so on.

③ Special reading

No special reading

Meanings

Next is the meaning of the kanji for 前.
This kanji is used in the next meanings

・front
・before
・previous

Radical

And the radical of this character is 刂　rittou
This character itself is a radical, a basic character.

Family name

Next, I will introduce family names. Here are some family names that are particularly common in Japan.

・前田　まえだ　Maeda
・前川　まえかわ　Maekawa

Personal name

There are no specific well-known personal names using the Kanji for 前

Famous person

Next, I will introduce Japanese celebrities who use the Kanji 出

・前澤 友作　まえざわゆうさく　Maezawa Yūsaku
He is an entrepreneur.

・前野 良沢　まえのりょうたく　Maeno Ryōtaku
He was the translator of the medical book, 解体新書 Kaitai Shinsho, during the Edo period.

・前島 密　まえじまひそか　Maejima Hisoka
He was one of the founders of the Japanese postal system.

・前田 利家　まえだとしいえ　Maeda Toshiie
He is a feudal lord of the Sengoku (Warring States) period. The clan of his descendants was the largest clan in the Edo period.

Anime characters

・越前 リョーマ　えちぜんりょーま　Echizen Ryōma
He is the main character of Prince of Tennis

Famous place

・弘前　ひろさき　Hirosaki
The city is located in the Tohoku region of Japan. Hirosaki Castle is famous for its cherry blossoms.

Look-alikes

There is no particular kanji that resembles the kanji character for "前".

kanji that contain character 前 in their composition

Here are some kanji that contain character 前 in their composition

・煎 　せん　sen
It means boil down

・揃　せん、そろ-う　sen, soro-u
It means be all present, align

↓Other kanji characters can be found in the list here↓

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