JLPT N5 grammar · Intermediate Action Patterns

~まえに: meaning, usage and examples

~まえに means: before...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. テレビを見みる前まえに、宿題しゅくだいをします。

   I do my homework before I watch TV.

2. ねる前まえに、本ほんを読よみます。

   I read a book before sleeping.

3. 食たべる前まえに、手てを洗あらいます。

   I wash my hands before eating.

4. 日本にほんに来くる前まえに、ひらがなを勉強べんきょうしました。

   Before coming to Japan, I studied hiragana.

When to use it

Expresses doing something before another action. The verb before 前まえに is always in dictionary form (not past tense).

Nuance

Unlike English 'before eating', Japanese requires the dictionary form even when the context is past: 食たべる前まえに (before eating, even in a past context).

Compare

〜た後あとで (after doing, past tense before 後あとで). 〜てから (after doing, te-form).

Tip: A classic mistake: 食たべた前まえに: WRONG. Must be 食たべる前まえに.