How to say "before" in Japanese

• 前まえJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounMeans 'in front (of)' something, as before a building, and is also used for 'before' in time — earlier than a point or event. Context makes clear which sense is meant.
  我が家わがやの前まえには狭せまい庭にわがあります。↗

  There is a small garden in front of my house.
• 以前いぜんJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun (suffix)Covers 'before' in the temporal sense — prior to a particular time — and can also express 'ago'. Its domain is time, so it does not serve for physical position.
  最善さいぜんを尽つくしますが、よくいっても木曜もくよう以前いぜんに終おえる事ことは出来できません。↗

  I'll do my best, but I'll not be able to finish it before Thursday at best.
• かつてJLPT N1approx.Common
  adverb, no-adjectiveAn adverb meaning 'once' or 'formerly': its 'before' is 'at some earlier time', not 'earlier than a stated time'. It is usually written in kana alone.
  一般いっぱんに日本人にほんじんは、自分じぶんたちがかつてより暮らし向くらしむきがよくなったと考かんがえている。↗

  The Japanese at large consider themselves better off than they used to be.
• お先におさきにJLPT N2approx.Common
  adverbPolite language for 'before' or 'previously', most familiar as what one says when leaving ahead of others; it is not a general-purpose temporal 'before'.
• 面前めんぜんCommon
  nounCovers 'before (someone)': being in a person's presence or right in front of them. It concerns people and position, not points in time.
  彼かれは、このことを僕ぼくの面前めんぜんでやった。↗

  He did this in front of my face.

Choose 前 for 'in front of' in space and for 'before' a time or event; 以前 for 'prior to' or 'ago'; 「かつて」 for 'once, formerly'; 「お先に」 as the polite word for going before others; 面前 for 'before someone'.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 前まえin front (of)
• 以前いぜんbefore
• かつてonce
• お先におさきにbefore
• 面前めんぜん(in the) presence (of)
• 先にさきにpreviously
• この前このまえthe other day
• 先立ってさきだってprior to
• 前方まえかたbefore
• ビフォーbefore
• 先立ちさきだちbefore
• までにby
• 一足先にひとあしさきにahead (of)
• お先おさきahead
• ないうちにbefore it becomes (verb)
• 前ぜんbefore
• お前おまえbefore (a god, nobleman, etc.)
• 先さきfirst
• すでにpreviously
• 一時いちじonce
• 元もとformerly
• 以往いおうbefore
• 爾前にぜんprior