In Japanese, both "手前" (temae) and "前" (mae) refer to concepts of "before" or "in front," but they are used in different contexts and carry different nuances:
手前 (temae):
Meaning: It can mean "in front of," "before," or "the area just before something." It is often used to refer to a specific area close to the speaker or the current location, and sometimes in more formal or specific contexts.
Usage: It is used in contexts like giving directions or describing a specific location. For example, in a restaurant setting, "手前" might refer to the area in front of a counter or a particular place near where someone is standing.
前 (mae):
Meaning: It generally means "in front of," "before," or "previous" in a more general sense. It is used to refer to the position or time before something or someone.
Usage: This term is more commonly used and can refer to time or spatial positions. For example, "前に" (mae ni) can mean "before" in terms of time, as in "三日前" (san-nichigo) meaning "three days ago."
Here are some examples of how "手前" (temae) can be used in different contexts:
Spatial Context:
店の手前で待ってください。
(Mise no temae de matte kudasai.)
"Please wait just before the store."
Here, "手前" (temae) specifies the area just in front of or near the store.
Directions:
交差点の手前で左に曲がってください。
(Kōsaten no temae de hidari ni magatte kudasai.)
"Turn left just before the intersection."
In this case, "手前" (temae) indicates the area close to the intersection where the turn should be made.
Formal Situations:
手前の会議室が空いています。
(Temae no kaigishitsu ga aiteimasu.)
"The meeting room just in front is available."
Here, "手前" (temae) is used to describe the meeting room that is close to or in front of the current location.
In these examples, "手前" (temae) helps specify a location or point in relation to something else, often used in more specific or formal contexts.