まえに details
write + before doing
kaku mae ni
before doing; before N
meaning: before writing
寝るまえに歯、磨いた？
neru mae ni ha, migaita?
Did you brush your teeth before going to bed? casual
日本に来るまえに、少しだけ日本語を勉強しました。
nihon ni kuru mae ni, sukoshi dake nihongo o benkyou shimashita.
I studied just a little Japanese before coming to Japan. neutral
Examples
before doing / before N — the main event happens earlier than the clause event
寝るまえに歯、磨いた？
nerumaeni ha, migaita?
Did you brush your teeth before going to bed? casual
日本に来るまえに、少しだけ日本語を勉強しました。
nihon ni kurumaeni, sukoshi dake nihongo o benkyou shimashita.
I studied just a little Japanese before coming to Japan. neutral
ご使用のまえに、この説明書をお読みください。
go shiyou no mae ni, kono setsumeisho o o yomi kudasai.
Please read this manual before use. formal
Formation
{V}まえにattaches to dictionary form{N}のまえにattaches to noun
Notes
Related patterns
Similar
Both open a temporal clause, but まえに asserts strict order — the main event precedes the clause event, always — while とき only locates the two together and delegates the order question to the tense inside the clause.
Both put the main event first in time, but まえに states the schedule off the dictionary form only, while ないうちに frames the same beforeness as beating a closing window — 暗くなるまえに帰る plans, 暗くならないうちに帰る races, and only うちに accepts the negative.
Opposite
- あとでplain-antonym
Mirror-image time markers with asymmetric attachment — まえに takes the dictionary form even in past narratives, あとで demands the た-form regardless of when the sentence happens.