前夜(ぜんや)

ぜんや
noun
the night before, eve
time-general
1. the night before, eve
The evening or night immediately preceding a particular event or day. Often used for the eve of holidays, ceremonies, or significant occasions.
クリスマス前夜(ぜんや)にケーキを食(た)べた。
We ate cake on Christmas Eve.
試験(しけん)の前夜(ぜんや)は緊張(きんちょう)して眠(ねむ)れなかった。
I was so nervous the night before the exam that I couldn't sleep.
結婚式(けっこんしき)の前夜(ぜんや)、家族(かぞく)みんなで食事(しょくじ)をした。
The night before the wedding, the whole family had dinner together.

前夜(ぜんや) refers to the night immediately before an event. Also used figuratively for the period just before a major change.

Common collocations

Usage

前夜(ぜんや) can describe the period just before a historical turning point:

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 前日(ぜんじつ) (the day before)
Compare: 昨夜(さくや) (last night)
general
Added 2026.2.18 22:58 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
11500/11876_zenya