お前

• 読み: おまえ
• ローマ字: omae
• 漢字の分解: 前 (zen/mae) — before, front, presence
• 発音: /o.ma.e/

意味

You (informal, singular). A familiar or rough second-person pronoun; also historically a respectful form.

A pronoun used primarily by males to address someone of equal or lower status in casual settings. Can sound aggressive or confrontational depending on tone and context. Historically, お前 was actually respectful (お + 前, 'your honorable presence'), but its usage shifted over centuries to become casual or rough. Close male friends may use it affectionately.

例文

1. お前の言う通りだったよ。
2. お前も一緒に来るだろう。
3. お前にはまだ早いと父に言われた。

使い方ガイド

場面: friends, family, confrontation

トーン: rough

起源と歴史

Originally an honorific compound: お (honorific prefix) + 前 (mae, before/presence). In classical Japanese, it referred respectfully to someone's presence. Over time, the honorific nuance faded, and it became a casual or rough pronoun.

文化的背景

時代: Classical

世代: Primarily male speakers

社会的背景: Universal