Japanese word

前々

Pronunciation

Romajimaemae

Meaning

  • nouna long time ago

Example

その話は前々のことです。so no hanashi wa mae mae no ko to de su

That story is from a long time ago.

Illustration for 前々 (a long time ago)

More examples

会議の資料は前々に準備しておきます。kai gi no shi ryō wa mae mae ni jun bi shi te o ki ma su

I will prepare the meeting materials well in advance.

Core concept

Shows that something lies far before a reference point, whether the reference is a past event or a future deadline.

Common phrases

  • 前々からmae mae ka ra

    for a long time

Similar words

昔mukashi: The distant past considered as a broad period of time.
以前izen: A time earlier than a given or understood point.
大昔ōmukashi: A time in the very distant past.
過去kako: The part of time that is no longer present.

Definition in Japanese

基準となる時点よりずっと前の時期。過去を指す場合は遠い昔、予定などを指す場合は十分な余裕をもって前の時期。ki jun to na ru ji ten yo ri zu tto mae no ji ki ka ko o sa su ba ai wa tō i mukashi yo tei na do o sa su ba ai wa jū bun na yo yū o mo tte mae no ji ki

Word origin

前々 (maemae, "long before") is formed by repeating the native word 前 (mae, "before"), a pattern that strengthens its temporal meaning.

Usage tips

  • When 前々 (maemae) modifies こと (koto, "matter"), as in 前々のこと (maemae no koto), it commonly points to a distant past rather than early preparation.

Other meanings

  • well in advancenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word