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Word 2638 of 2920

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手前

てまえ

this side, just before (a point); one's standing in others' eyes

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. あの信号の手前で降ろしてください。

    あのしんごうのてまえでおろしてください。

    Please drop me off just before that traffic light.

  2. 駅の手前にコンビニがあります。

    えきのてまえにコンビニがあります。

    There's a convenience store just before the station.

  3. 子どもの手前、怒るのを我慢した。

    こどものてまえ、おこるのをがまんした。

    With the children watching, I held back my anger.

Common patterns

〜の手前
just before ~, on this side of ~
手前に置く
to put it nearer oneself
人の手前
for the sake of appearances in front of others

Memory tip

Spatially it is the near side from where the speaker stands, so 駅の手前 is before you reach the station. The second idiom, 〜の手前, means "with ~ looking on", i.e. for appearances' sake.

Kanji in this word

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What does 手前 mean?