前

A place in front, or a time before

前 (mae) can describe a position or a time. With a place, it means “in front.” With an action, it means “before.” After a length of time, it means “ago.”

In front of a place

駅の前 (えきのまえ) · eki no mae

Use place + の前. 駅の前 means “in front of the station.” Add に to say where someone or something is, as in 駅の前に友達がいます.

Before an action

食べる前に (たべるまえに) · taberu mae ni

Put the dictionary form of a verb before 前に. 食べる is the dictionary form of “eat,” so 食べる前に means “before eating.” Say what you do before it next.

A length of time ago

三年前 (さんねんまえ) · sannen mae

Put a length of time before 前. 三年 means “three years,” so 三年前 means “three years ago.” It tells you how far back something happened.

名前 (なまえ, namae) means “name.” Learn it as a separate word, even though it contains 前. The examples below use 前 with its own reading, まえ.