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まえに (mae ni) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Before

Author Anna Baffa Volpe for article 'まえに (mae ni) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Before'

Anna Baffa Volpe

The term まえに (mae ni) means before, ahead, ago, in front of.

It is used to describe something that happened before another thing, expressing time and it is also used in a context of space referring to something in front of another thing.

In this post we are going to learn all the possible meanings of まえに through example sentences in real contexts.

How まえに is formed

This word can be preceded by either a noun or a verb.

Verb in the dictionary form+まえに
Noun+のまえに

前(まえ)に is the transcription in kanji

Its antonym is represented by 後(あと)で ato de meaning afterwards, after.

How and when まえに is used

まえに is used both when talking about something temporal and spatial.

Mae ni in spatial expression patterns

In this case the form follows the structure:

Noun indicating the space+の前(まえ)に

図(と)書(しょ)館(かん)の前(まえ)には大(おお)勢(ぜい)の学(がく)生(せい)が待(ま)っていた。

A large number of students were waiting in front of the library.

すばらしい景(けい)色(しき)がさっと目(め)の前(まえ)に現(あらわ)れた。

A wonderful view suddenly appeared in front of me.

目(め)の前(まえ)に in front of my eyes

学校(がっこう)の前(まえ)にある軽(けい)食(しょく)屋(や)に行(い)こう。

Let's go to the snack bar in front of the school.

Mae ni in temporal expression patterns

In this case we find temporal expressions of various kinds or nouns that imply temporal contexts.

ジョギングの前(まえ)に、たくさん水(みず)を飲(の)みましょうね。

Let's drink plenty of water before jogging!

１週(しゅう)間(かん)前(まえ)に彼(かれ)に会(あ)った。

I met him a week ago.

Here are some useful structures:

  • 10日前に tōka mae ni: 10 days ago
  • 2ヶ月前に nikagetsu mae ni: 2 months ago
  • ５年前に gonen mae ni: 5 years ago

As we see in this kind of expressions the particle の is obmitted between the number and the numeric suffix expressing time and 前(まえ)に.

前 can be followed by the particle の and becomes an adjective:

前(まえ)の日(ひ)に

The day before, the previous day

2年(ねん)前(まえ)の出(で)来(き)事(ごと)

What happened two years ago

旅(りょ)行(こう)の前(まえ)にホテルを予(よ)約(やく)した方(ほう)がいいよね。

It's better to book a hotel before the trip.

Before doing something

まえに is widely used in combintion with the plain form in present tense and refers to an action occurring before another.

国(くに)へ帰(かえ)る前(まえ)に、お土産(みやげ)を買(か)います。

I buy souvenirs before going back to my country.

毎(まい)朝(あさ)、家(いえ)を出(で)る前(まえ)に、瞑(めい)想(そう)します。

I meditate every morning before leaving home.

The verb is used in its affirmative form.

  • 買(か)い物(もの)に行(い)く前(まえ)に before going shopping
  • 決(き)める前(まえ)に before deciding something

Use of 前(まえ) in a title of an article from the Internet

japanesegrammar
学校の前: in front of the schools

物件(ぶっけん)が学校(がっこう)の前(まえ)。デメリットを教(おし)えて下(した)さい。

Properties in front of the schools. What are the disadvantages?

Dore gurai mae ni

どのぐらい前(まえ)に dono gurai mae ni, a useful interrogative form to ask:

  • How long?
  • How long ago?
  • How far in advance?
  • How early?
japanesegrammar
どのくらい前に: How far in advance?

試(し)験(けん)日(び)は、受(じゅ)験(けん)のどのくらい前(まえ)に行(い)きますか。

How far in advance do you go on the day of the exam?

A similar situation and sentence:

試(し)験(けん)会(かい)場(じょう)にはどれくらい前(まえ)に着(つ)けばいいの？

How early should I get to the test room?

Other sentences:

彼(かれ)はどれくらい前(まえ)に電(でん)話(わ)しましたか？

How long ago did he call?

予(よ)約(やく)はどれくらい前(まえ)にすればいいですか？

How far in advance should I make the reservation?

Exemples of まえに

３年(ねん)前(まえ)に、日本(にほん)に来(き)ました。

I came to Japan three years ago.

A

ごめん、待(ま)った？

Sorry, did you wait for me?

B

ううん、５分(ぶん)前(まえ)に来(き)たばかりだよ。

No, I just got here five minutes ago.

The form たばかり refers to something that just happened.

寝(ね)るまえに、歯(は)みがきを忘(わす)れないでね。

Don't forget to brush your teeth before going to sleep.

大(だい)学(がく)を卒(そつ)業(ぎょう)する前(まえ)に、色(いろ)々なところに旅(りょ)行(こう)したい。

Before I graduate from University, I want to travel to various places.

私(わたし)は彼(かれ)の前(まえ)に出(で)たら言(こと)葉(ば)が出(で)なくなった。

I was speechless when I stood in front of him.

Similar grammar points in Japanese 📚

から

から (kara) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Because

だけ

だけ (dake) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Only

たりする

たりする (tari suru) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Do Such Things as A, B Etc

ちがう

ちがう (chigau) Meaning Japanese Grammar - No

まだ

まだ (mada) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Still

ないでください

ないでください (naide kudasai) Meaning Japanese Grammar - Please Do Not Do