Meaning of Mae in Japanese

Businessman standing out from the crowd
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by Namiko Abe
Namiko Abe is a Japanese language teacher and translator, as well as a Japanese calligraphy expert. She has been a freelance writer for nearly 20 years.
Updated April 18, 2018

Mae is a Japanese word that means the front, or presence. Learn more about its meanings and usage in the Japanese language below.

Pronunciation

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Meaning

the front; presence; ago; before

Japanese Characters

前 (まえ)

Example & Translation

Sono hanashi wa mae nimo kiita yo!
その話は前にも聞いたよ。

or in English:

I heard the story before!