前線(ぜんせん)

ぜんせん
noun
front line; weather front
1. front line
The foremost line of a battle or conflict. Also used figuratively for the forefront of any activity or field.
兵士(へいし)たちは前線(ぜんせん)に送(おく)られた。
The soldiers were sent to the front line.
彼(かれ)は研究(けんきゅう)の最前線(さいぜんせん)で活躍(かつやく)している。
He is active at the forefront of research.
医療(いりょう)の前線(ぜんせん)で働(はたら)く人(ひと)たちに感謝(かんしゃ)したい。
I want to thank the people working on the front lines of healthcare.
2. weather front
A boundary between two air masses of different temperatures, as used in meteorology. Commonly heard in weather forecasts.
梅雨(つゆ)前線(ぜんせん)が近(ちか)づいている。
The rainy season front is approaching.
前線(ぜんせん)の影響(えいきょう)で明日(あした)は雨(あめ)になる。
Due to the weather front, it will rain tomorrow.
停滞(ていたい)前線(ぜんせん)が日本(にほん)列島(れっとう)の上(うえ)に長(なが)くとどまり、各地(かくち)で大雨(おおあめ)となった。
A stationary front lingered over the Japanese archipelago, causing heavy rain across the country.

前線(ぜんせん) has two main meanings: (1) the front line of battle or activity, and (2) a weather front in meteorology.

COMPOUND:
前(ぜん) (front) + 線(せん) (line).

SENSE 1 — FRONT LINE:

Used literally for military contexts and figuratively for being at the forefront of any field.

  • 最前線(さいぜんせん): the very forefront
  • 前線(ぜんせん)に立(た)つ: to stand on the front line
  • 医療(いりょう)の前線(ぜんせん): the front lines of healthcare

SENSE 2 — WEATHER FRONT:

A standard meteorology term heard daily in weather forecasts.

  • 梅雨(つゆ)前線(ぜんせん): rainy season front
  • 停滞(ていたい)前線(ぜんせん): stationary front
  • 寒冷(かんれい)前線(ぜんせん): cold front
  • 温暖(おんだん)前線(ぜんせん): warm front

NOTE:
The compound 最前線(さいぜんせん) (very forefront) is extremely common in both literal and figurative use: 研究(けんきゅう)の最前線(さいぜんせん) (the cutting edge of research).

general
Added 2026.2.18 15:08 · Revised 2026.4.2 16:10
11500/11791_zensen