まえ
Meanings
Noun
1. in front (of); before (e.g. a building)
Adverb
Adjective (の)
Noun
2. before; earlier; previously; prior; ago; (minutes) to (the hour)
Adjective (の)
Noun
3. (the) front; frontal part; fore; head (e.g. of a line)
Noun
4. forward; ahead
5. (in the) presence (of); in front (of someone)
Adjective (の)
6. previous (e.g. page); prior (e.g. engagement); first (e.g. half); former (e.g. example)
Suffix
7. portion; helping
after a noun or the -masu stem of a verb
Noun
8. front (of one's body or clothing); breast (of a coat, kimono, etc.)
9. privates; private parts
10. criminal record; previous conviction; (a) prior
Kanji used
in front of
Pitch accent
Top 100
Used in vocabulary (175 in total)
you; presence (of a god, nobleman, etc.)
name; given name; first name
before one's eyes; in front of one; under one's nose; immediate; imminent; around the corner
ahead; before; ago
natural; reasonable; obvious; usual; common; ordinary
some time ago; recently; lately; last (Sunday, etc.); previous
before oneself; in front of one; a bit before reaching (a location); this side (of a location); one's standpoint; one's appearance; skill
in front of a station
front-facing; forward-looking; positive; constructive
ability; skill; facility
one portion; one serving; adult; grown-up; fully fledged; established
one portion; one serving; adult; grown-up; fully fledged; established
forefoot; forefeet; foreleg; forelimb
presence (of a nobleman, the emperor, etc.); outrider (person riding horseback in the lead position of a cavalcade); My Lord; My Lady
face; official stance; public position or attitude (as opposed to private thoughts); ceremony for the erection of the framework of a house
a few years ago; some years back
in advance; beforehand; previously
presence of other people; (in) public; (in) front of others
paying one's own expenses; going into business for oneself; working independently; person who earns their own living
handsome man; man's looks; good looks; manliness
morning; forenoon; just before noon
forefoot; forefeet; foreleg; forelimb
one's nature; characteristic; inherent; natural
natural; reasonable; obvious; usual; common; ordinary
home delivery (of food); outside catering
front garden; front yard; vestibule (of the ear)
very easy; piece of cake; child's play; before breakfast
one hundred years ago; a hundred year previously
a short time ago; a while ago; for some time
share; portion; quota; cut
settlement for a dispute (esp. one caused by an affront or blunder); money paid to settle a dispute
advance payment; money paid in advance
long ago; previous; of a former age
natural; reasonable; obvious; usual; common; ordinary
preface; introduction; lead in (to a joke, question, etc.); lead up; payment in advance (by bank transfer); swinging (one's body) forward
right in front; just opposite; under the nose
previous work; preceding work; first crop grown in a double-cropped field; preceding crop
chef (esp. of high-end Japanese cuisine); cook; area of a kitchen that contains the chopping board
adult; grown-up; person who has come of age; fully fledged; established; qualified
front wheel; saddle fork
forefoot; forefeet; foreleg; forelimb
to the previous extent; as much as previously; as much as one used to
to show one's privates
generosity
advance celebration
face; official stance; public position or attitude (as opposed to private thoughts); ceremony for the erection of the framework of a house
tea-ceremony procedures; skill; dexterity; (arch.) you
calm before a storm; lull before the storm
advance warning; previous notice; announcement; herald; harbinger; forerunner
for two people; (work) of two; (meals) for two
(degree of) public interest in forthcoming event or performance; advance reviews
adult; grown-up; person who has come of age; fully fledged; established; qualified
front side; anterior
to cover one's private parts
you; presence (of a god, nobleman, etc.)
wearing a kimono with the right side over the left (normally used only for the dead); going badly (one's business, one's fortune, the economy); being in a bad financial situation; front left; front and left
introductory remarks
front right; front and right; before and right; right side under (clothing)
way of speaking; profession
presence (of a god, emperor, etc.)
rank-and-file wrestlers in the highest division
right in front; just opposite; under the nose
long ago; previous; of a former age
in advance; beforehand; previously
part of the fabric that is wrapped farthest from the skin when wearing a garment that is wrapped in front of one (such as a kimono); percentage; commission
don't put the trivial ahead of the important; don't sweat the small stuff; don't bother with the details (before embarking on a great enterprise); read the fine print; be careful of the small things (before embarking on a great enterprise)
a short time ago; a while ago; for some time
double-breasted
advance payment; advance delivery
portion of food
before going out
front (of a piece of traditional Japanese clothing)
advance sale; booking
front basket (e.g. on a bicycle)
former boyfriend; ex-boyfriend
in front of the customer (guest, visitor, etc.); before the customer
front part low
front and back; before and behind; before and after
preface; introduction; lead in (to a joke, question, etc.); lead up; payment in advance (by bank transfer); swinging (one's body) forward
crest (of a helmet); plume; pompom; figurehead
front basket (e.g. on a bicycle)
some time ago; recently; lately; last (Sunday, etc.); previous
share; portion; quota
previous existence
a long time ago; long before now
in advance; beforehand; previously
to the previous extent; as much as previously; as much as one used to
Matsumae pickles; dried squid, kombu, and herring roe pickled together
tea-ceremony procedures; skill; dexterity; (arch.) you
previous thread
part of the fabric that is tucked closest to the skin when wearing a garment that is wrapped in front of one (such as a kimono)
face; official stance; public position or attitude (as opposed to private thoughts)
settlement for a dispute (esp. one caused by an affront or blunder); money paid to settle a dispute
covering private parts (esp. actors during filming); minimal bikini bottom (held only by tiny straps or adhesive tape); lined hakama that bulge in the front
dashboard; frontlet
former section (stanza)
the year before a critical age; the year before an inauspicious year
taking pictures (for a wedding, etc.) prior to the event
company name with the "kabushiki kaisha" at the beginning
excuse me (when passing in front of somebody)
front basket (e.g. on a bicycle)
former boyfriend; ex-boyfriend
supplement; addition
sandal or clog strap
advance publicity
share; portion; quota
et tu, Brute?; even you, Brutus?
former girlfriend; ex-girlfriend
penultimate bout of the tournament day
it's always darkest before the dawn; the darkest hour is just before the dawn
frontal sandal strap (between the toes)
frontal sandal strap (between the toes)
share; portion
warm-up (before an act or a TV show recording); prologue; introduction
single-breasted (jacket, etc.)
placket (clothing); facing
front matter (of a book); preliminaries
front basket (e.g. on a bicycle)
frontal sandal strap (between the toes)
share; portion
front matter (of a book); preliminaries
upstage center (in a noh play)
fore edge (of a book)
share; portion; quota; cut
tea-ceremony procedures
opening in front (clothing)
covering private parts (esp. actors during filming); minimal bikini bottom (held only by tiny straps or adhesive tape)
pitching forward (as if to fall); proactive; forward-looking; hasty (without sufficient preparation); rushed
frontal sandal strap (between the toes)
previously; some time ago
et tu, Brute?; even you, Brutus?
open in front
one's share (in the expenses)
focal point of a lens in front of the subject
sword worn at one's side
sword worn at one's side
payment in advance (by bank transfer)
paying upfront; upfront payment; prepayment
the year before the unlucky year
battling to knock away the hands of one's opponent, in order to achieve an advantageous position
front of a mawashi
stage left (on a noh stage), in front of the chorus
stage left (on a noh stage), in front of the chorus
just before a war; day before a holiday; day before the one on which prostitutes were forced to accept customers
Gakuenmae Station (Chiba)
Shiyakushomae Station (Fukui)
Kenchōmae Station (Hyōgo)
Examples (200 in total)
It happened before.
I'll wait for you in front of the school.
I already read all the Harry Potter books.