午前
ごぜん · gozen · JLPT N5 · noun
morning
🌅 午前 = noon + before: the hours before noon
午 is noon (the Horse hour, 11am-1pm) and 前 means before, so 午前 is literally before-noon, i.e. A.M. Its partner is 午後 (gogo) = noon + after, P.M. Same 午 as in 正午 (shōgo), exact noon.
前 — top 丷 + 一 + 月 (moon) + 刂 (knife)
Originally written 歬, depicting a foot 止 above a boat 舟, meaning to advance or go forward. Over time the form evolved and the knife radical 刂 was added, while 止 and 舟 fused into the modern shape. The core meaning 'front, before, ahead' has stayed consistent.