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Before A (occurs/happens), B
運うん動どうの 前まえに ス ト レ ッ チ を 為しま し ょ う 。 
Let's stretch before we work out.
66
決 め る 前 に も う 一 度 相 談 し て み た 方 が い い で し ょ う ？ 
Wouldn't it be good to discuss it one more time before you decide?
2
61
学 校 に 行 く 前 に 、 猫 に 餌 を 遣 り な さ い 。 
Feed the cat before you go to school.
0
82
寝 る 前 に 歯 を 磨 い て 下 さ い ！ 
Brush your teeth before you go to sleep!
3
45
映 画 館 に 入 る 前 に チ ケ ッ ト を 買 わ な け れ ば 成 り ま せ ん 。 
You need to buy a ticket before you enter the movie theatre.
2
41
運 動 し 始 め る 前 に ス ト レ ッ チ を 為 て 下 さ い 。 
Please stretch before you begin to work out.
0
50
私 は 毎 朝 ご 飯 を 食 べ る 前 に お 風 呂 に 入 り ま す 。 
Every morning, I take a bath before I eat breakfast.
0
20
ず っ と 前 に 、 ミ カ ン を 食 べ 過 ぎ て 嫌 い に 成 っ た 。 
A long time ago, I ate too many mandarine oranges and came to hate them.
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23
如何 し て 其 の 前 に 、 話 し て 呉 れ な か っ た の か 。 
Why didn't you talk to me before then?
0
20
ご 飯 を 食 べ る 前 に 、 如何 し て も カ ラ オ ケ に 行 き た い 。 
At any rate, I want to sing karaoke before we eat.
1
21
前 に 、 君 と 何処 か で 会 っ た 気 が す る 。 
It feels like I have met you somewhere before.
0
18
パ ー テ ィ ー の 前 に 、 紹 介 し た い 友 達 が 居 ま す 。 
Before the party, there is a friend I want to introduce.
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17
ゲ ー ム を 始 め る 前 に 、 勉 強 を し よ う 。 
Let's study before we start the game.
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17
毎 年 、 苗 を 植 え る 前 に 田 を 耕 さ な け れ ば 行 け ま せ ん 。 
Every year, before planting the seedlings, one must plough the fields.
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8
ご 飯 を 食 べ る 前 に 手 を 洗 い ま し ょ う 。 
Let's wash our hands before eating.
0
10
貴方 は 離 れ る 前 に 必 ず 火 を 消 し な さ い 。 
Be sure to put out the fire before you leave.
0
8
出 か け る 前 に 確 り 鍵 を 掛 け ま し た か ？ 
Did you make sure and lock (the door) before heading out?
0
12
此 の 瓶 は 開 け る 前 に 振 り な さ い 。 
Shake this bottle before you open it.
0
3
ポール は 出 か け る 前 に 手 袋 を 為 た 。 
Paul put on gloves before going out.
0
11
リ ン ゴ を 食 べ る 前 に 皮 を 剥 き な さ い 。 
Take the skin off before you eat the apple.
0
9
暗 く 成 る 前 に 帰 り ま す 。 
I'll be back before dark.
0
9
回 路 を 調 べ る 前 に 、 電 源 の ス イ ッ チ を 切 り な さ い 。 
You must switch off the power before checking the circuit.
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11
使 用 為 る 前 に 瓶 を 振 っ て 下 さ い 。 
Shake the bottle before using.
0
6
彼 の シ ャ ツ は 汚 い 。 学 校 に 行 く 前 に 洗 う 必 要 が 有 り ま す 。 
That shirt is very dirty. It needs washing before you go to school.
0
7
彼 の 家 は 迚 も 古 い 。 売 る 前 に 修 繕 が 必 要 だ 。 
The house is very old. It needs repairing before you sell it.
0
5
私 は 寝 る 前 に 手 紙 を ５ 通 書 い た 。 
I wrote five letters before I went to bed.
0
12
ジム は 横 断 為 る 前 に 左 右 を 見 た 。 
Jim looked right and left before he crossed the road.
0
13
手 術 の 前 に 彼 は 注 射 を 為 れ た 。 
He had an injection prior to the operation.
0
5
出 か け る 前 に ヒ ゲ を 剃 ら な く て は 。 
I've got to shave before leaving.
0
7
商 談 に 入 る 前 に 、 少 し 雑 談 で も 為 ま し ょ う 。 
I like to shoot the breeze for a while before talking business.
0
9
寝 る 前 に テ レ ビ を 消 す の を 忘 れ た 。 
I forgot to turn off the TV before going to bed.
0
13
寝 る 前 に 一 風 呂 浴 び ま せ ん か 。 
Will you like to have a bath before going to bed?
0
13
寝 る 前 に 電 灯 を 消 し て 下 さ い 。 
Please turn off the light before you go to bed.
0
19
赤 ん 坊 は 歩 く 前 に 這 う 。 
Babies crawl before they walk.
0
14
通 り を 横 断 為 る 前 に 左 右 を 見 な さ い 。 
Look to the left and right before crossing the street.
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12
肉 を 食 べ る 前 に 細 か く 切 る 可 き で す 。 
You should cut up your meat before you eat it.
0
11
日本人 は 寝 る 前 に 暑 い 湯 に 漬 か る の が 好 き で す 。 
Japanese love to soak in a hot tub before bed.
0
16
彼 が 答 え る 前 に 長 い 時 間 の 間 隔 が 有 っ た 。 
There was a long interval before he replied.
0
10
彼 の 試 験 を 採 点 為 る 前 に 、 彼 が 病 気 だ っ た こと を 考 慮 に 入 れ 無 く て は な ら な い 。 
We must take his illness into consideration before marking his exam.
0
25
彼 女 は お 茶 を 淹 れ る 前 に お 湯 が 沸 く 迄 待 っ た 。 
She waited until the water boiled before making the tea with it.
0
12
彼 女 は 今 夜 の パ ー テ ィ ー の 前 に 着 替 え を 為 な け れ ば 成 ら な い 。 
She has to change clothes before tonight's party.
0
11
包 帯 を 為 る 前 に 彼 は 傷 を 洗 浄 為 た 。 
He cleansed the wound before putting on a bandage.
0
2
話 を す る 前 に 手 を 挙 げ て 下 さ い 。 
Please raise your hand before you speak.
1
4
もち 米 は 蒸 か す 前 に 一 晩 程 水 に 浸 け て お く 必 要 が 有 り ま す 。 
Before steaming the rice, it's necessary to soak it in water overnight.
0
33
新 聞 を 読 む 前 に ご 飯 を 食 べ よ う よ 。 
Let's eat before you read the newspaper.
0
14
CD を 買 う 前 に 、 食 べ よ う 。 
Let's eat before I buy the CD.
0
7
僕 は 出 か け る 前 に 自 分 の 本 を 整 理 為 る 時 間 が 無 い 。 
I have no time to put my books in order before I go.
0
4
決 定 為 る 前 に 全 て の こと を 考 慮 為 る 様 に し な さ い 。 
Try to take account of everything before you make a decision.
0
8
家 に 入 る 前 に 彼 女 は 靴 を 擦 っ て 綺 麗 に 為 た 。 
She scraped her shoes clean before she entered the house.
0
10
決 心 為 る 前 に 長 所 短 所 に 就 い て 良 く 考 え な さ い 。 
Reflect on advantages and disadvantages before you make up your mind.
0
15
外 出 為 る 前 に 髪 を 櫛 で 解 き な さ い 。 
Comb your hair before you go out.
0
5
ペ ン を 取 る 前 に 考 え を 纏 め る 必 要 が 有 る 。 
I must put my ideas together before I take up a pen.
0
7
其 の 医 者 は 手 術 の 前 に 患 者 を リ ラ ッ ク ス 為 せ た 。 
The doctor made his patient relax before the operation.
0
6
髭 を 剃 る 前 に 石 鹸 を 付 け る 。 
I lather my face before shaving.
0
5
此 の 新 し い 機 種 を 買 う 前 に 一 度 試 し て み た い 。 
I'd like to try out this new model before I buy it.
0
18
私 が 出 発 為 る 前 に 夕 食 が 出 る 気 配 は 無 か っ た 。 
There was no sign of dinner appearing before I left.
0
5
彼 女 は 夕 食 の 前 に さ っ ぱ り 為 た 。 
She freshened herself up before supper.
0
0
採 用 面 接 を 担 当 す る 前 に 、 事 前 準 備 を 為 て 置 く 必 要 が 有 り ま す 。 
Before you are in charge of the employee interviews, you need to do some preparation ahead of time.
0
2
離 陸 前 に 注 意 事 項 を 御 確 認 下 さ い 。 
Please take the necessary precautions before we take off.
2
7
土 曜 日 は 日 曜 日 の 前 に 来 る 。 
Saturday comes before Sunday.
0
12
彼 は 食 事 の 前 に 汚 れ た 手 を 洗 っ た 。 
He washed his dirty hands before the meal.
0
8
旅 行 に 出 か け る 前 に 頭 を 刈 っ て 置 き た い 。 
I want to get a haircut before I go on the trip.
0
9
彼 女 は 食 事 の 前 に 汚 れ た 手 を 洗 っ た 。 
She washed her dirty hands before the meal.
0
4
入 る 前 に ド ア を ノ ッ ク 為 て 下 さ い 。 
Please knock on the door before you enter.
0
7
寝 る 前 に 火 を 消 し な さ い 。 
Put out the candles before you go to bed, will you?
0
4
寝 る 前 に 宿 題 を 片 付 け な さ い 。 
Finish your homework before you go to bed.
0
6
彼 は 答 え る 前 に 躊躇 っ た 。 
He hesitated before answering.
0
4
私 は ペ ン を 取 る 前 に 考 え を 纏 め な け れ ば 成 ら な い 。 
I must put my ideas together before I take up my pen.
0
5
私 は 試 験 を 受 け る 前 に 面 接 を 受 け な け れ ば 成 ら な い 。 
I have to have an interview before taking the examination.
0
4
喧 嘩 為 る 前 に 話 し 合 お う 。 
Let's talk before fighting.
0
5
旅 行 に 行 く 前 に 注 射 を 為 な け れ ば 成 ら な い 。 
I need some shots before I go on my trip.
0
1
彼 は 退 職 前 に 事 務 作 業 を 引 き 継 い だ 。 
Before he retired, he had handed over charge of his office.
0
10
私 は 行 動 為 る 前 に 様 ざま な 要 因 を 考 え た 。 
I thought of various factors before I acted.
0
5
答 案 を 出 す 前 に 、 もう 一 度 読 み 返 し な さ い 。 
Read over your examination script before you hand it in.
0
6
ホ テ ル で は 寝 る 前 に 非 常 口 が 何処 に 有 る か 確 か め な さ い 。 
Make certain where the emergency exit is before you go to bed at a hotel.
0
12
彼 は 死 ぬ 前 に 大 き な 財 産 を 蓄 え た 。 
He amassed a large fortune before he died.
0
7
馬 に 乗 る 前 に 、 人 は 普 通 、 馬 に 鞍 を 付 け る 。 
Before getting on a horse, you usually put a saddle on its back.
0
5
不 幸 に も 、 冬 が 終 わ る 前 に 食 糧 が 無 く な っ て 仕 舞 っ た 。 
Unfortunately, the food supplies gave out before the end of winter.
0
6
毎 回 食 事 の 前 に 手 を 洗 い な さ い 。 
Wash your hands before each meal.
0
6
私 は 回 答 を 為 る 前 に 其 の 問 題 を じ っ く り 考 え ね ば な ら な い 。 
I must carefully think over the matter before giving my answer.
0
7
車 を 運 転 為 る 前 に ブ レ ー キ を 調 べ て 調 節 為 な さ い 。 
Check and adjust the brakes before you drive.
0
7
私 は 走 る 前 に 、 体 を 解 す の に 一寸 体 操 を 為 る 。 
I like to do a few exercises to loosen up before I run.
0
7
彼 ら は 爆 弾 が 爆 発 為 る 前 に 其 の 信 管 を 外 し た 。 
They defused the bomb before it could blow up.
0
7
白 い ワ イ ン は 出 す 前 に 冷 や す 方 が 良 い 。 
It's better to chill white wine before you serve.
0
6
寝 る 前 に 目 覚 ま し を セ ッ ト 為 な さ い 。 
You've got to set the alarm clock before you go to bed.
0
7
出 か け る 前 に 明 確 な 計 画 を 立 て て 置 い て 欲 し い 。 
I want you to have a definite plan before you leave.
0
7
道 を 横 断 為 る 前 に 辺 り を 見 回 し な さ い 。 
Look around before you cross the street.
0
5
大 統 領 は 辞 任 前 に 根 回 し を 為 て 居 た 。 
The president had laid the groundwork before he resigned.
0
6
卵 が 孵 る 前 に 雛 の 数 を 数 え る な 。 
Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
0
6
彼 は 水 に 潜 る 前 に 何 回 か 深 呼 吸 を 為 た 。 
He took some deep breaths before he dived.
0
6
彼 は 解 答 為 る 前 に 二日間 熟 考 為 た 。 
He meditated for two days before giving his answer.
0

Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
AVerb: Dictionary Form
 
ANoun の
 
 
前にBInitial Event
Basic Examples:
走る前にストレッチング為る (stretch before running)

宿題の前に食べる (eat before doing homework)

会議の前に準備する (prepare before a meeting)

In other words:
1. Event B occurs first
2. Event A occurs second
The event described by A is always written in the casual present tense, even if B has already happened.
When both events occur in the present/future
In this usage, neither events A nor B have occurred. For example:

本 を 読 む 前 に 、 テ レ ビ を 見 ま す 。 (correct)

I (will) watch TV before I read a book.
rewritten like we did above, it would be
1. テレビをみます occurs first
2. 本をよむ occurs second

Neither event has happened yet, but the order of the events have been noted by まえ に.

Note that you can use a noun with A to describe a time (even though there's no verb)

宿 題 の 前 に 、 晩 御 飯 を 食 べ ま す 。 (correct)

Before I do my homework, I will eat dinner.
rewritten like we did above, it would be
1. ばんごはんをたべます occurs first
2. しゅくだい (をする) occurs second
When both events occur in the past
In this usage, both events A and B have occurred. For example:

昨日 の 試 験 の 前 に 、 良 く 勉 強 し ま し た 。 (correct)

I studied a lot before the test yesterday.
1. よくべんきょうしました occurred first
2. しけん (をしました) occurred second

今朝 、 学 校 に 行 く 前 に 朝 ご 飯 を 食 べ ま し た 。 (correct)

This morning, I ate breakfast before I went to school.
1. あさごはんを食べました occurred first
2. 学校に行きました occurred second

Wait! Why is 'がっこうにいく' in non-past tense, even though it's already happened? Japanese time statements like まえに are relative: that means they refer to the time of the other event in the sentence, not the present time during which the sentence is being read/said.

In cases like this, the sentence has a time phrase (which describes when), and a main phrase (which describes the key action). The time phrase includes the 前に, and comes first:
がっこうにいくまえに (time phrase: this describes when the main phrase occurs
あさごはんをたべました (main phrase: this is what the sentence is focused on)
In other words, this sentence's purpose is not to describe a sequence of events. It is to describe when the main action occurs/occurred.

The main phrase's action is the focal point of the sentence. Anything that happens before it should be in non-past, while anything that happens after it (in the case of あとで) is written in past, regardless of whether or not the main action has already occurred.
Related Expressions
にあたって／にあたり
後で
Where this grammar is found


Grammar usage notes

another way to think about this is putting the event that occurred second in the gerund form: 'before doing my homework, I will eat dinner.' or 'Before going to school, I ate breakfast.' In English as well we have times when both actions are in the past but one action is not written in past tense ;-)
43
1
avatar
mysticfive
Level: 2390
You have to be careful not to write 前 first, and then the verb or name, like you'd do in English. First the subject and then 前。
3
0
avatar
Rahel Eza
Level: 55

Questions/Discussion

Nothing posted yet!

Discussion about this grammar
This section has been archived, and no new posts can be added. Please use the discussion form(s) above.
avatar
Ukky
Level: 1
My Japan-native Japanese language instructor taught us that mae could be used with the "verb-dictionary form" without the "ni". is this true?
2
16 years ago
avatar
マイコー
Level: 342
Yea, I'm pretty sure you could use it in the topic like this
食べる前は、しゅくだいをしなさい！
8
16 years ago
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顔無し
Level: 1
ahh, i'm so confused. why are they using 先 instead of 前？
0
16 years ago
avatar
マイコー
Level: 342
Where is 先 being used?
0
16 years ago
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顔無し
Level: 1
In the basic usage section, they use さき　(sorry, just the hiragana, not the actual kanji as I wrote above) in the example sentences, like this one: 「本をよむさきに、テレビを見ます。」(correct) I (will) read a book before I watch TV. Are they just interchangeable, or am I missing something? Sorry to be a bother ^^
0
16 years ago
avatar
マイコー
Level: 342
Oh hey, I see it now. You're definitely right, and I'll fix it right now. Thanks!
0
16 years ago
avatar
顔無し
Level: 1
Not at all! Thank you!
0
16 years ago
avatar
やくざ
Level: 1
「あさごはんをべんきょうしました」near the bottom of the "Basic Usage" section probably should be 「あさごはんをたべました」.
0
16 years ago
avatar
マイコー
Level: 342
*laughs* yea, you're probably right. Thanks for catching that!
0
16 years ago
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damonhicks
Level: 1
In the above example: 「ほんをよむまえに、テレビをみます。」 the translation says I will read a book before I watch TV. Is that not reversed? Isn't the "まえに" referencing the time before reading the book? In other words, shouldn't the translation be "I will watch TV before I read a book"?
0
16 years ago
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マイコー
Level: 342
You're right - a bit of a typo. Thanks for that - I'll fix it right now!
0
16 years ago
avatar
アペル
Level: 211

食事の３０分前に、薬を飲みます。

Is that correct?

0
1 year ago


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