How to say "prior" in Japanese

• 事前じぜんJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjectiveCovers 'prior' in the sense of 'beforehand, in advance': an action taken or arranged before the event in question, as with prior notice, prior approval, or prior preparation.
  事前じぜんに予約よやくを取とっておくべきだ。↗

  We'd better make a reservation beforehand.
• 前まえJLPT N5approx.Common
  no-adjective, adverbAs 'prior' it means 'earlier, previous' — the prior day, the prior owner — and it also serves for 'prior to' an event, where it is simply 'before'; for the 'in advance' sense use 事前 instead.
  部屋へやに入はいる前まえに靴くつを脱ぬぎなさい。↗

  Take your shoes off before you come into the room.

Use 事前 for 'prior' meaning done or arranged in advance of an event (prior notice, prior approval), and 前 when 'prior' simply means 'before' or 'earlier' in time (the prior day).

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

• 事前じぜんprior
• 在りしありしprior
• 修院長しゅういんちょうprelate
• 修道院長しゅうどういんちょうhead of a monastic institution
• 事前分布じぜんぶんぷprior probability distribution
• 前まえbefore
• 爾前にぜんprior
• 先さきprevious