前 夜(ぜんや)

ぜんや

noun

the night before, eve

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.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

前夜(ぜんや)祭(さい) (eve festival, preliminary celebration)
クリスマス前夜(ぜんや) (Christmas Eve)
大会(たいかい)の前夜(ぜんや) (the night before a tournament)

In formal or literary usage, 前夜(ぜんや) can also suggest the period just before a major historical turning point, as in 革命(かくめい)の前夜(ぜんや) (the eve of revolution).

general

Added 2026.2.18 22:58

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