手前(てまえ)

てまえ
noun
this side, before
1. this side, in front
The area or position closer to the speaker, as opposed to the back or far side.
手前(てまえ)にある。
It's on this side.
手前(てまえ)のドアから入(はい)ってください。
Please enter through the door on this side.
本棚(ほんだな)の手前(てまえ)に椅子(いす)があります。
There's a chair in front of the bookshelf.
2. just before (reaching)
A point shortly before arriving at a destination.
駅(えき)の手前(てまえ)で曲(ま)がる。
Turn just before the station.
目的地(もくてきち)の手前(てまえ)で車(くるま)を止(と)めた。
I stopped the car just before the destination.
交差点(こうさてん)の手前(てまえ)にコンビニがあるので、そこを右(みぎ)に曲(ま)がってください。
There's a convenience store just before the intersection, so turn right there.

手前(てまえ) indicates the area closer to the speaker, opposite of 奥(おく) (back/interior).

SENSE 1 — THIS SIDE:

Refers to the nearer side of something from the speaker's perspective.

  • 手前(てまえ)にある: it's on this side
  • 手前(てまえ)の席(せき): the seat on this side

SENSE 2 — JUST BEFORE:

Used with の to mean "just before reaching" a landmark, very common in directions.

  • 駅(えき)の手前(てまえ)で曲(ま)がる: turn just before the station
  • 信号(しんごう)の手前(てまえ): just before the traffic light

OTHER MEANINGS:

  • 手前(てまえ) can mean "I" as a humble first-person pronoun, but this is old-fashioned
  • [person]の手前(てまえ): "out of consideration for [person]," "because [person] is watching"

Related Words

Antonym: 奥(おく) (back, interior)
general
Added 2026.1.7 21:27 · Revised 2026.4.4 13:28
01000/01001_temae