〜まえに (mae ni)

JLPT N5

How to say you do one thing before something else.

Meaning

“Before ~.” The action after まえに happens first in time, before the main action.

Formation

• Verb (dictionary form) + まえに

• Noun + の + まえに

• Time span + まえに (三年前に)

Examples

寝る前に、歯を磨きます。

Neru mae ni, ha o migakimasu. — I brush my teeth before sleeping.

食事の前に手を洗ってください。

Shokuji no mae ni te o aratte kudasai. — Please wash your hands before the meal.

出かける前に、天気を確認する。

Dekakeru mae ni, tenki o kakunin suru. — I check the weather before going out. (casual)

三年前に日本へ来ました。

San-nen mae ni Nihon e kimashita. — I came to Japan three years ago.

How it works

With a verb, always use the dictionary (plain, non-past) form before まえに — even when the sentence is about the past. With a noun, connect using の.

It's the mirror image of 〜てから (after doing).

Compared with similar expressions

• 〜まえに — before doing (dictionary form + まえに).

• 〜てから — after doing (て-form + から).

• 〜あとで — after (afterwards).

Common mistakes

• Use the dictionary form, not past: ✗ 寝た前に → ✓ 寝る前に

• With nouns, keep の: 食事の前に

Related grammar

• 〜てから — after doing

• 〜あとで — after

• 〜とき — when