1.
front and back, before and behind
The area or direction in front and behind something. Spatial orientation.
前後を確認してから発車してください。
Please check front and back before starting the car.
前後左右を確認する。
Check all directions (front, back, left, right).
車の前後に注意する。
Be careful of the front and back of the car.
列の前後の人と話した。
I talked to the people in front and behind me in line.
順番の前後が入れ替わった。
The order was swapped.
2.
before and after, around (time)
The time immediately before and after an event. Also used to indicate approximate time.
事故は午後3時前後に起きた。
The accident happened around 3 PM.
X時前後 = around X o'clock
正午前後に届く予定です。
It's expected to arrive around noon.
出発の前後は忙しい。
I'm busy before and after departure.
食事の前後に薬を飲む。
Take medicine before and after meals.
試合の前後で練習した。
I practiced before and after the match.
1週間前後かかる。
It takes about a week.
3.
context, circumstances
The surrounding context or circumstances of a situation.
文脈の前後から意味を推測する。
I infer the meaning from the surrounding context.
話の前後が分からない。
I don't understand the context of the story.
前後の事情を説明してください。
Please explain the circumstances.
前後の流れを見てから判断する。
I'll judge after seeing the overall flow.
発言の前後を確認しないと、本当の意味は分からない。
Unless you check the context around the statement, you can't understand its true meaning.
USAGE PATTERNS:
1. SPATIAL (front/back):
- 前後左右 (front, back, left, right - all directions)
- 前後を見る (to look front and back)
2. TEMPORAL (around a time):
- 3時前後 (around 3 o'clock)
- 事件の前後 (around the time of the incident)
3. CONTEXTUAL:
- 前後の文脈 (surrounding context)
- 話の前後 (the context of the story)
EXPRESSION: 前後不覚 = losing consciousness, being in a daze