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How to say 'Before' or 'Previously' in Japanese | 以前

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

The Japanese word for Before or Previously is 'Izen', written as 以前 in Japanese.'Before' or 'Previously' in hiragana is いぜん.

    word

    以前

    Meaning

    Before, Previously

    Reading

    いぜん

    izen

    Kanji

    以By means of 前Before, Front

    Explanation

    The Japanese noun '以前 (いぜん)' refers to a time or period before a specific point in the past. It is often used to indicate something that happened prior to a certain event or time. For example: I lived in Tokyo before「以前、東京に住んでいました」(いぜん、とうきょうにすんでいました). This situation was different previously「以前はこの状況は違いました」(いぜんはこのじょうきょうはちがいました). The word can also be used to compare past and present states, emphasizing a change over time.

    Part Of Speech

    noun

    Kanji JLPT

    N4

    Kanji Grade

    4

    Frequency

    574

    Composition

    kanji

    Handwriting

Kanji in the Word 以前

This word contains 2 kanji characters:

  • kanji

    以

    Meaning

    By means of

  • kanji

    前

    Meaning

    Before, Front

Words Related to 以前 Through the Kanji 以

These 7 Words contain the Kanji 以 as well.

  • word

    以上

    Meaning

    More than, No more

  • word

    以外

    Meaning

    Except

  • word

    以下

    Meaning

    Below, Less

  • word

    以来

    Meaning

    Since

  • word

    以降

    Meaning

    After

  • word

    以後

    Meaning

    After, Hereafter

  • word

    以内

    Meaning

    Within

Words Related to 以前 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

    昼前

    Meaning

    Before noon

  • word

    前後

    Meaning

    Approximately, Before and after

  • 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

Learn the Word 以前

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What does 'Izen' (以前) mean?

'Izen' means 'Before' or 'Previously' .

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