1.
before that; previously; prior to that
refers to the time period before a previously mentioned event or point in time
東京に引っ越す前、その前は大阪に住んでいた。
Before moving to Tokyo, before that I lived in Osaka.
会議が始まる。その前に資料を確認しよう。
The meeting will start. Let's check the documents before that.
その前の週は忙しかった。
The week before that was busy.
COMPOUND:
その (that) + 前 (before)
USAGE:
- Can refer to time: before that event
- Can refer to position: in front of that
- その前に is a common pattern meaning "before doing that"
PATTERN:
その + noun pattern:
- そのため - therefore
- その後 - after that
- その間 - meanwhile
- その時 - at that time
CONTRAST:
- その前 ↔ その後/後 (before ↔ after)