前日(ぜんじつ)

ぜんじつ
noun
previous day, day before
1. previous day, day before
The day immediately before a particular event or date. Often used to describe preparations or events occurring the day before something important.
試験(しけん)の前日(ぜんじつ)は早(はや)く寝(ね)た方(ほう)がいい。
You should go to bed early the day before the exam.
結婚式(けっこんしき)の前日(ぜんじつ)に準備(じゅんび)をした。
I made preparations the day before the wedding.
前日(ぜんじつ)までにご連絡(れんらく)ください。
Please contact us by the day before.
旅行(りょこう)の前日(ぜんじつ)に荷物(にもつ)をまとめておいた。
I packed my luggage the day before the trip.
大会(たいかい)の前日(ぜんじつ)は緊張(きんちょう)してあまり眠(ねむ)れなかった。
I was nervous the day before the tournament and couldn't sleep much.

前日(ぜんじつ) means "the day before" a specific referenced event or date. Unlike 昨日(きのう) (yesterday), which is relative to today, 前日(ぜんじつ) is relative to a particular occasion.

DISTINCTION:

  • 前日(ぜんじつ): the day before [an event] — used in narratives and formal contexts
  • 昨日(きのう): yesterday — relative to the present moment

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 〜の前日(ぜんじつ): the day before ~
  • 前日(ぜんじつ)までに: by the day before
  • 前日(ぜんじつ)に準備(じゅんび)する: to prepare the day before

REGISTER:
Slightly formal. Common in written text, announcements, and narratives. In casual speech, people might say 前(まえ)の日(ひ) instead.

RELATED TIME EXPRESSIONS:

  • 翌日(よくじつ): the following day
  • 当日(とうじつ): the day itself
  • 前夜(ぜんや): the previous night/evening

Related Words

Antonym: 翌日(よくじつ)
Related: 当日(とうじつ)
core
Added 2026.1.11 21:53 · Revised 2026.4.3 15:54
03000/03108_zenjitsu