JLPT N2 · Noun

手前 (temae)

手前 (てまえ, temae) is a Japanese noun meaning “before oneself; in front of one”. It appears in JLPT N2 vocabulary lists and is marked as a common word in JMdict.

Reading: てまえ
Romaji: temae
Word class: Noun
Level: JLPT N2 (unofficial)

Meaning

before oneself; in front of one; nearby · noun
a bit before reaching (a location); this side (of a location) · noun
one's standpoint; one's appearance; face; honour · noun
skill; dexterity; artistry; ingenuity · noun
tea-ceremony procedures · noun

Example sentences

手前のガラス張りの建物は薔薇園なんです。温室になっていて、いつも薔薇を観賞できるようになってるんですよ。

The glass fronted building before you is the rose garden. It's a greenhouse so you will always be able to appreciate the roses.

Tatoeba #76038

あの信号の手前で降ろしてください。

Please let me off on this side of that traffic light.

Tatoeba #230827

自分の直感が、いかに確かなものか自慢した手前、当てがはずれた時は首をやらなければならなくなった。

Having boasted how sure his hunches were, he was forced to eat his hat when he guessed wrong.

Tatoeba #149788

Sentences from the Tatoeba project, linked to this word in JMdict.

Kanji in 手前

手

handシュ・ズ・て・て- · 4 strokes

前

in front, beforeゼン・まえ・-まえ · 9 strokes

Related words

Other vocabulary sharing a kanji with 手前.

手てhand切手きってstamp (postage)上手じょうずskillful手紙てがみletter下手へたunskillfulお手洗いおてあらいtoilet手袋てぶくろglove運転手うんてんしゅdriver手伝うてつだうto help手術しゅじゅつsurgery手段しゅだんmeans助手じょしゅassistant相手あいてcompanion握手あくしゅhandshake

Source: JMdict entry 1328030 (EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0). Level: unofficial JLPT list – how levels are assigned.