Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 10: 17/22

以前(いぜん)

Before, Not even, Before even, Precede, Far from

Structure

Noun(1) + 以前(いぜん)（に）
Noun(1) (A) + 以前(いぜん) + の + Noun (B)

(1) A(2) + (Antonym) A(2), Verb (A) + Verb (A)［ない］(2)
(2) ［な］Adjective、［い］Adjective

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About 以前

When used as a suffix, the noun 以前(いぜん) ‘preceding’, or ‘prior to’ will indicate that a topic is being brought forward as not even fulfilling the minimum requirements of (A), and therefore is expected to be reached before that minimum. Often, this will come across as ‘before even (A)’ in English, and is used to criticize something that is thoughtless or irresponsible.
以前(いぜん) will appear directly after another nouns, the dictionary form of verbs, い-Adjectives, or な-Adjectives. In most cases, 以前(いぜん) will be followed by either the case-marking particle に or の, depending on whether it is being linked to a subsequent verb or noun.
  • 人(ひと)のことを心配(しんぱい)する以前(いぜん)に自分(じぶん)の心配(しんぱい)をしろ！
    Before worrying about others, worry about yourself!
  • それは古(ふる)いか新(あたら)しいか以前(いぜん)の問題(もんだい)だと思(おも)う。
    I think that is a problem before worrying about whether it is new or old.
  • 安全(あんぜん)か危険(きけん)か以前(いぜん)に、それは法律(ほうりつ)で禁(きん)じられているので試(ため)すこともできません。
    Before whether it is safe or dangerous, that is forbidden by law, so you will not even be able to try it.
  • お前(まえ)が結婚(けっこん)できないのは顔(かお)以前(いぜん)の問題(もんだい)だよ。お前(まえ)は性格(せいかく)が悪(わる)すぎる。
    Your face is far from the reason you cannot get married. You have a bad personality.
The word 以前(いぜん) itself is usually reserved for highlighting larger distances in the past than 前(まえ) ‘before’ by itself, and can therefore simply be thought of as an emphatic version of 前(まえ). This emphasis is often what gives rise to the tone of criticism. As it is stating that ‘way before (A), (B)’, or ‘long before you even think of (A), (B)’.

Examples

  • ポイ捨(す)ては法律(ほうりつ)以前(いぜん)の道義(どうぎ)的(てき)な問題(もんだい)だ。

    When it comes to littering, before even the law, it is a moral issue.

  • 彼(かれ)は、自分(じぶん)が女(おんな)の子(こ)にモテないのはファッションがださいからだと思(おも)ってる。それは事実(じじつ)だけど、それ以前(いぜん)の問題(もんだい)として、彼(かれ)は性格(せいかく)に問題(もんだい)がある。

    He believes that he is not popular with girls due to his bad fashion sense. While that is true, preceding even that, he has issues with his personality.

  • 信(しん)じる信(しん)じない以前(いぜん)にもっと根本(こんぽん)的(てき)な問題(もんだい)なんだよ。先(ま)ずどうにか彼女(かのじょ)にこの事(こと)を伝(つた)えなきゃ。

    Before whether she believes it or not, there is a more fundamental issue. To start, I must somehow convey this to her.

  • 食(た)べずに「ブロッコリーが嫌(きら)い」という人(ひと)もいます。好(す)き嫌(きら)い以前(いぜん)に、食(た)べてみることが大事(だいじ)なのです。食(た)べた上(うえ)で、好(す)き嫌(きら)いはご自由(じゆう)に。

    There are even people who say 'I don't like brocolli', without having eaten it. Before being nitpicky, what's important is to try it. Upon eating it, then feel free to be fussy.

  • パフォーマンス以前(いぜん)の問題(もんだい)で、基本(きほん)的(てき)な機能(きのう)を実装(じっそう)する必要(ひつよう)があります。

    Preceding the performance issue, it is necessary to equip it with basic functionality.

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