What does 手前 mean?
手前 is a Japanese noun meaning “before, this side” in English. It can also be translated as “a bit before reaching (a location), one's standpoint, skill” depending on context. It is written as 手前 in kanji, てまえ in hiragana, and temae in romaji. This word is part of JLPT N2 vocabulary.
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.
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.
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.