GRAMMAR
〜以前
before
not even
Explanation
NOTE
〜以前 has one basic meaning before — it marks a point in time and refers to everything earlier than it.
結婚以前、彼は東京に住んでいた。
Before marriage, he lived in Tokyo.
NOTE
It also means not even — it says something is so basic that the topic has not yet reached that stage.
礼儀以前の問題だ。
It is a problem of not even reaching manners.
Here 以前 means the situation is so poor it cannot even be discussed in terms of manners.
NOTE
It is somewhat formal and common in writing. Attach 以前 directly to a noun.
STRUCTURE
N辞
以前戦争以前、この町は静かだった。
Sensou izen, kono machi wa shizuka datta.
Before the war, this town was quiet.
入学以前に彼と会った。
Nyuugaku izen ni kare to atta.
I met him before entering school.
それは常識以前の話だ。
Sore wa joushiki izen no hanashi da.
That is a matter of not even reaching common sense.
それは議論以前の、とても失礼な態度です。
Sore wa giron izen no, totemo shitsurei na taido desu.
That is a very rude attitude, not even worth discussing.
この計画は、成功以前に、まずは準備が必要です。
Kono keikaku wa, seikou izen ni, mazu wa junbi ga hitsuyou desu.
For this plan, before we even talk about success, we first need preparation.
この会議は、開始以前の問題が多すぎます。
Kono kaigi wa, kaishi izen no mondai ga oosugimasu.
This meeting has too many problems from before it even started.
Practice exercises
1
卒業以前、彼は大阪に住んでいた。
Before graduation, he lived in Osaka.
Answer
以前
2
それは礼儀以前の問題だ。
That is a problem of not even reaching manners.
Answer
以前
3
戦争以前、ここは畑だった。
Before the war, this place was a field.
Answer
以前
4
その状況にあって、倫理以前の判断が必要だ。
In that situation, a judgment even more basic than ethics is necessary.
Answer
以前
5
彼の失敗は、努力以前の認識の欠如が原因だ。
His failure is due to a lack of awareness even more basic than effort.
Answer
以前
6
事件を機に、法以前の問題が顕在化した。
Triggered by the incident, an issue even more basic than the law became apparent.
Answer
以前
7
新システム導入に先駆けて、費用以前の課題を解決すべきだ。
Prior to implementing the new system, we should solve problems even more basic than cost.
Answer
以前
8
これは賛否を問う以前の、根本的な問題だ。
This is a fundamental problem, not even a matter of pros and cons.
Answer
以前