前 — before, front, previous
まえ
前
before
Grade 2
Japanese school grade level in which this kanji is taught. Grade 1 is first year of elementary school.
9 strokes
time
direction
U+524D
Unicode hex codepoint — a unique identifier for this character in the Unicode standard.
Freq #27
Frequency rank among the ~2,500 most common kanji in Japanese newspapers. Lower number = more common.
Heisig #290
Index in James Heisig's "Remembering the Kanji" — a popular textbook that teaches kanji through mnemonics and stories.
Meanings
- before
- front
- previous
word
まえ mae Kun'yomi Kun'yomi (訓読み) — the native Japanese reading of this kanji. Used when the kanji appears alone or with okurigana (trailing hiragana).
せん ・ぜん sen On'yomi On'yomi (音読み) — the Sino-Japanese reading, derived from Chinese pronunciation. Most commonly used in compound words (jukugo).
Appears in idioms
Components
Composed of
Used as component in (1)
Compound ideograph (会意). Originally combined 止 (foot) and 舟 (boat), meaning to advance. The modern form shows 丷 + 月 + 刀. Before, front.