The position in front of something (e.g., in front of a building).
家の前に大きな木が立っている。
There is a large tree standing in front of the house.
駅の前で待ち合わせしましょう。
Let's meet in front of the station.
ビルの前に広告の看板がある。
There is an advertising sign in front of the building.
Earlier; before; previously (used for times like 'minutes to' the hour or to indicate something happened earlier).
3年前に日本へ来ました。
I came to Japan three years ago.
映画は10分前に始まった。
The movie started ten minutes ago.
前に言ったように、明日は休みです。
As I said before, tomorrow is a holiday.
The front or head part of something (e.g., the front of a line).
列の前に並んでいる人が先に入場します。
People at the front of the line enter first.
チームの前でキャプテンが挨拶した。
The captain gave a greeting in front of the team.
教室の前に黒板があります。
There is a blackboard at the front of the classroom.
Forward; ahead—moving or being ahead (as in 'move forward').
もっと前に進んでください。
Please move forward a bit more.
彼はチームを前に出した。
He pushed the team forward (put the team ahead).
前に出て発表してください。
Come to the front and give your presentation.
In someone's presence; in front of someone (doing something where others can see).
彼の前で恥をかきたくない。
I don't want to be embarrassed in front of him.
先生の前で答えを言った。
I answered in front of the teacher.
子どもの前で喧嘩をしないでください。
Please don't fight in front of the children.
Previous; prior—used in compounds like 'previous page', 'previous engagement', 'first half' to indicate something earlier or former.
前ページを見てください。
Please look at the previous page.
前回の会議で決まったことを復習しよう。
Let's review what was decided at the previous meeting.
試合は前半が終わったところだ。
The match has just finished the first half.
A suffix meaning a portion or share (e.g., 'two servings'), or to form words like 'fully qualified' (一人前). Used after a noun or the -masu stem of a verb.
カレーを二人前お願いします。
Two servings of curry, please.
彼はまだ一人前の料理人ではない。
He is not yet a fully qualified chef.
The front of the body or clothing (e.g., the front of a coat or kimono; the chest area).
上着の前をボタンで留めてください。
Please fasten the front of your jacket with the buttons.
着物の前をきれいに合わせるのが難しい。
It's hard to arrange the front of a kimono neatly.
Colloquially refers to the private parts (slangy; can be crude).
日本語では俗に『前』が陰部を指すことがあるので注意が必要だ。
In Japanese, '前' can colloquially refer to the genital area, so be careful.
下着がずれて前が見えてしまった。
Her underwear shifted and her private area became visible.
Colloquially can mean a criminal record or prior conviction (informal usage).
彼について『前がある』という噂がたっている。
There are rumors that he has a prior conviction.
その話は前を隠すための嘘かもしれない。
That story might be a lie to hide a prior record.