← Kanji module
N5 · 9 strokes · — · Irodori #2 · Starter L3
前
before, in front
Stroke diagrams © KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Readings
- On’yomi
- ゼン
- Kun’yomi
- -まえ、まえ
Example words
前
-まえ
before
前
ゼン
Typical reading practice — before
Memory aids
Guided learn session →How to remember
Shape
Two legs (月) walking forward past a blade (刂) — moving ahead, before/front.
Components
Remember "before" (前) by connecting it to its Irodori vocabulary context.
Anchor word
名前 (なまえ) — your first meeting with this kanji in Irodori.
Readings
First learned in 名前 (なまえ) — recall the word to unlock the reading. Kun'yomi: -まえ、まえ — often used in native Japanese words (like 名前). On'yomi: ゼン — common in compound words (熟語).