～前
～まえ · ～mae · JLPT N5 · noun
in front of ~
前 = before/front: attach it to a noun to mean in front of that thing
前 (mae) means front or before, in space and in time. Noun + の + 前 gives in front of: 駅の前 = in front of the station. Sound hook: mae starts like my — my front faces forward. Same kanji as 名前 (namae, name) and 午前 (gozen, before 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.
～ぜん · ～zen · JLPT N2 · noun
before ~
前 = front, so ～zen means ahead of: 食前 shokuzen = before meals
前 is the same kanji as mae (front), read zen in compounds. 戦前 senzen = before the war, 午前 gozen = before noon (a.m.). Hook: you sit in Zen meditation before anything else starts.
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.