前

Glyph origin
Originally, an – a foot on a boat moving forward. Alternatively, represents a shoe (cf.  : 舟象履形) — a foot with a shoe on to walk forward.

In the current form, is simplified to  and  to. The current form with an additional is the original form of.

Etymology 1
zh.

Definitions

 * 1) front; forepart
 * 2) ago; before
 * 3) past; previous; former; earlier
 * 4) top; foremost; leading
 * 5) future; time ahead
 * 6) to move forward
 * 1) ago; before
 * 2) past; previous; former; earlier
 * 3) top; foremost; leading
 * 4) future; time ahead
 * 5) to move forward
 * 1) past; previous; former; earlier
 * 2) top; foremost; leading
 * 3) future; time ahead
 * 4) to move forward
 * 1) top; foremost; leading
 * 2) future; time ahead
 * 3) to move forward
 * 1) top; foremost; leading
 * 2) future; time ahead
 * 3) to move forward
 * 1) future; time ahead
 * 2) to move forward
 * 1) to move forward
 * 1) to move forward

Usage notes
may refer to either the past or the future depending on one's perspective that is often implied by the context idiomatically. The  specifically refers to the day before yesterday.

Kanji

 * 1) in front
 * 2) before

Etymology 1
From as a compound of. Ultimately from.

→ →  →  →

Noun

 * 1) the front
 * 2) the past
 * 3) * 1934, Torahiko Terada, ゴルフ随行記
 * 4) previous
 * 1) * 1934, Torahiko Terada, ゴルフ随行記
 * 2) previous
 * 1) * 1934, Torahiko Terada, ゴルフ随行記
 * 2) previous
 * 1) previous

Suffix

 * 1) a portion, an amount
 * 2) ago
 * 1) ago

Etymology 3
From. Compare modern 🇨🇬.

Counter

 * 1) counter for irregularly shaped objects such as desks, armrests, and serving trays
 * 2) counter for kami and shrines

Prefix

 * 1) the last, the previous
 * 2) pre- (of an era)

Suffix

 * 1)  ago
 * 2)  before
 * 1)  before
 * 1)  before

Etymology 4
Contraction of, itself a contraction of , an honorific form of address.

Suffix

 * 1)  an honorific suffix added to a noun denoting a person

Etymology
From.