前触(まえぶ)れ

まえぶれ
noun
omen; harbinger; advance notice; forewarning
communication
1. omen; sign; harbinger of something to come
A sign or indication that something is about to happen.
地震(じしん)の前触(まえぶ)れかもしれない。
It might be an omen of an earthquake.
春(はる)の前触(まえぶ)れを感(かん)じる。
I sense the harbingers of spring.
動物(どうぶつ)の異常(いじょう)な行動(こうどう)は大(おお)きな地震(じしん)の前触(まえぶ)れだと言(い)われている。
Unusual animal behavior is said to be a harbinger of a major earthquake.
2. advance notice; prior notification
Notification or warning given before an event or action.
何(なん)の前触(まえぶ)れもなく突然(とつぜん)現(あらわ)れた。
They appeared suddenly without any warning.
前触(まえぶ)れもなく訪(たず)ねてくるのはやめてほしい。
I wish you'd stop showing up without any advance notice.
工事(こうじ)の前触(まえぶ)れとして、住民(じゅうみん)に手紙(てがみ)が届(とど)いた。
As advance notice of the construction, a letter was delivered to residents.

前触(まえぶ)れ combines 前(まえ) (before) and 触(ふ)れ (announcing): something that goes ahead of an event, either as a natural sign of it or as a deliberate announcement of it.

Common expressions

  • 前触(まえぶ)れなく / 前触(まえぶ)れもなく (without warning, suddenly)
  • Xの前触(まえぶ)れ (a harbinger of X)
  • 前触(まえぶ)れがある (there are signs, there is prior notice)

Similar words

The negative 前触(まえぶ)れなく is by far the most common use of the word.

Related Words

Related: 兆(きざ)し (sign)
Synonym: 前兆(ぜんちょう) (omen, premonition)
Related: 予告(よこく) (advance notice (deliberate))
general
Added 2026.1.18 12:30 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
06500/06632_maebure