前日(ぜんじつ)

ぜんじつ
noun
previous day, day before
time-general
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.

Similar words

  • 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

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

Related Words

Antonym: 翌日(よくじつ)
Related: 当日(とうじつ)
Compare: 昨日(きのう) (yesterday)
Related: 前夜(ぜんや) (the previous night/evening)
Related: 前々日(ぜんぜんじつ) (two days before (a specified event or date))
core
Added 2026.1.11 21:53 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29
03000/03108_zenjitsu