事前
じぜん · jizen · JLPT N1 · na-adj
in advance
📅 事 (thing, matter) + 前 (before) = a matter handled before the event, so: in advance
事 means matter or affair and 前 means before or front. Together they describe dealing with a matter ahead of time. Example: 事前準備 means advance preparation.
事 — hand 又 holding a banner/tablet on a pole
Originally a pictograph of a hand (又) grasping a pole or ceremonial banner used by an official, depicting the act of conducting court business. From this it came to mean 'affair, matter, business, service.' It shares an ancient origin with 史 (scribe) and 吏 (official).
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.