noun, adverb

  1. pre-era, BC, BCE.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
紀元前 きげんぜん

Contained Kanji Breakdown

chronicle, account, narrative
キ おさむ ただす (4th, N1)
thread
いと シ (1st, N2)
short thread radical (no. 52)
ヨウ ちいさい (Kentei 1)
little, small
ショウ こ- ちい.さい (1st, N5)
feathered stick, barb radical (no. 6)
ケツ かぎ (Kentei 1)
eight, eight radical (no. 12)
ハチ や はっ (1st, N5)
self
コ おのれ キ (6th, N1)
beginning, former time, origin
ゲン もと ガン (2nd, N4)
two, two radical (no. 7)
ニ ふた ふだ (1st, N5)
legs radical (no. 10)
ジン ニン がい (Kentei 1)
in front, before
まえ ゼン さき (2nd, N5)
grass, straw, herbs
to divide
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ いっ ひと- (1st, N5)
cutting off feet as form of punishment
ゲツ グチ ゴツ
month, moon
つき ゲツ ガツ (1st, N5)
knife, standing sword radical (no. 18)
トウ