Japanese word

以前

Pronunciation

Romajiizen

Meaning

  • adverbbefore

Example

以前は東京に住んでいました。i zen wa tō kyō ni su n de i ma shi ta

I lived in Tokyo before.

Illustration for 以前 (before)

More examples

以前より早く起きるようになりました。i zen yo ri haya ku o ki ru yō ni na ri ma shi ta

I have started getting up earlier than before.

Core concept

Frames an event or state as existing earlier than the time being discussed.

Common phrases

  • 以前はi zen wa

    formerly

  • 以前よりi zen yo ri

    than before

  • 以前にi zen ni

    previously

Similar words

先にsakini: It places an action or event before another one in time or sequence.
昔mukashi: It refers to an earlier period, often one far in the past.
かつてkatsute: It refers to a past time or state that may no longer continue.

Definition in Japanese

今またはある時点から見て、それより前の時期に。ima ma ta wa a ru ji ten ka ra mi te so re yo ri mae no ji ki ni

Word origin

以前 (izen) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 以 (i, "from") and 前 (zen, "before"), whose meanings together indicate an earlier time.

Usage tips

  • English "ago" usually counts backward from now, whereas 以前 (izen) can place an event before a reference point other than the present.

Other meanings

  • formerlyadverb
  • agoadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word