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How to say 'Approximately' or 'Before and after' in Japanese | 前後

Wondering how to say 'Approximately' or 'Before and after' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for Approximately or Before and after is 'Zengo', written as 前後 in Japanese.'Approximately' or 'Before and after' in hiragana is ぜんご.

    word

    前後

    Meaning

    Approximately, Before and after

    Reading

    ぜんご

    zengo

    Kanji

    前Before, Front 後After, Behind

    Explanation

    The Japanese noun '前後 (ぜんご)' has two distinct meanings. The first meaning refers to 'before and after,' indicating a sequence or time frame around an event. For example: The accident happened around 3 PM「事故は3時前後に起こった」(じこはさんじぜんごにおこった). The second meaning is 'approximately,' used to indicate an approximate time or quantity. For example: It will take approximately 10 minutes「10分前後かかります」(じゅっぷんぜんごかかります). Note that the context usually clarifies which meaning is intended.

    Part Of Speech

    noun

    Kanji JLPT

    N5

    Kanji Grade

    2

    Frequency

    1617

    Composition

    kanji

    Handwriting

Kanji in the Word 前後

This word contains 2 kanji characters:

  • kanji

    前

    Meaning

    Before, Front

  • kanji

    後

    Meaning

    After, Behind

Words Related to 前後 Through the Kanji 前

These 29 Words contain the Kanji 前 as well.

  • word

    前

    Meaning

    Before, Front

  • word

    御前

    Meaning

    You

  • word

    名前

    Meaning

    Name

  • word

    以前

    Meaning

    Before, Previously

  • word

    昼前

    Meaning

    Before noon

  • word

    前提

    Meaning

    Premise

  • word

    当たり前

    Meaning

    Natural, Obvious

  • word

    午前

    Meaning

    Morning, AM

  • word

    前回

    Meaning

    Last time

  • word

    前期

    Meaning

    First half

  • word

    前述

    Meaning

    Aforementioned

  • word

    直前

    Meaning

    Just before

  • word

    事前

    Meaning

    Advance, Prior

  • word

    前進

    Meaning

    Advance

  • word

    手前

    Meaning

    Oneself, Front

  • word

    前半

    Meaning

    First half

  • word

    戦前

    Meaning

    Prewar

  • word

    前者

    Meaning

    Former

  • word

    前方

    Meaning

    Front

  • word

    前掲

    Meaning

    Aforementioned

  • word

    前向き

    Meaning

    Positive

  • word

    人前

    Meaning

    Public

  • word

    前もって

    Meaning

    Beforehand

  • word

    出前

    Meaning

    Delivery

  • word

    前日

    Meaning

    Previous day

  • word

    前売り券

    Meaning

    Advance, Ticket

  • word

    前年

    Meaning

    Previous year

  • word

    建て前

    Meaning

    Principle, Facade

  • word

    駅前

    Meaning

    Station front

Words Related to 前後 Through the Kanji 後

These 24 Words contain the Kanji 後 as well.

  • word

    後

    Meaning

    After

  • word

    最後

    Meaning

    End

  • word

    明後日

    Meaning

    Day after tomorrow

  • word

    今後

    Meaning

    Future

  • word

    後ろ

    Meaning

    Back

  • word

    戦後

    Meaning

    Postwar

  • word

    午後

    Meaning

    Afternoon

  • word

    以後

    Meaning

    After, Hereafter

  • word

    後半

    Meaning

    Second half

  • word

    後ろ向き

    Meaning

    Backward

  • word

    明々後日

    Meaning

    Day after tomorrow

  • word

    後書き

    Meaning

    Postscript

  • word

    直後

    Meaning

    Immediately after

  • word

    背後

    Meaning

    Behind

  • word

    後回し

    Meaning

    Postponement

  • word

    後者

    Meaning

    Latter

  • word

    後戻り

    Meaning

    Retreat, Backtrack

  • word

    後片付け

    Meaning

    Tidying

  • word

    後悔

    Meaning

    Regret

  • word

    後輩

    Meaning

    Junior

  • word

    死後

    Meaning

    Afterlife

  • word

    後期

    Meaning

    Second, Later

  • word

    後方

    Meaning

    Rear, Back

  • word

    後見

    Meaning

    Guardianship

Learn the Word 前後

Let's make sure you fully understand this word.

What does 'Zengo' (前後) mean?

'Zengo' means 'Approximately' or 'Before and after' .

To help you master this word, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.