15秒でわかる
- Means 'before' or 'earlier' in almost any context.
- Use 'antes de' to link it to another action or noun.
- Commonly used to express preference, meaning 'rather than'.
意味
It simply means 'before' or 'sooner'. You use it whenever you need to talk about time, order, or choosing one thing over another.
主な例文
3 / 6Ordering at a cafe
Eu quero um café antes da comida.
I want a coffee before the food.
Scheduling a meeting
Podemos falar antes da reunião?
Can we talk before the meeting?
Texting a friend about arrival
Cheguei antes! Estou na mesa do fundo.
I arrived early! I'm at the back table.
文化的背景
The 'Antes e Depois' culture is massive on Brazilian social media, reflecting a national obsession with transformation and self-improvement. In Portugal, 'antes' is often used in a more formal, structured way in daily speech, reflecting a slightly more traditional approach to time management. In Angolan Portuguese, 'antes' is frequently used in storytelling to establish the lineage of events in oral traditions. The proverb 'Antes só do que mal acompanhado' is a universal piece of advice across all Portuguese-speaking countries.
The 'De' Rule
If there is a word after 'antes', you almost always need 'de'. 'Antes de você', 'Antes de comer'.
Avoid 'Ago'
Never use 'antes' to mean 'ago'. This is the #1 mistake for English speakers.
15秒でわかる
- Means 'before' or 'earlier' in almost any context.
- Use 'antes de' to link it to another action or noun.
- Commonly used to express preference, meaning 'rather than'.
What It Means
Antes is your primary tool for talking about time. It indicates that something happened at an earlier point. It is the opposite of depois (after). You can use it for simple time markers. You can also use it to show preference. It is one of the most versatile words in Portuguese.
How To Use It
On its own, antes means 'before' or 'earlier'. If you want to say 'before [something]', use antes de. For example, antes de comer means 'before eating'. When followed by a verb, the verb usually stays in the infinitive. If you are comparing two things, antes shows what comes first in line. It is short, easy to pronounce, and very common.
When To Use It
Use it when scheduling meetings. Use it when telling a story about your childhood. It is perfect for giving directions. Use it at a restaurant to say you want appetizers first. It works in text messages to tell a friend you arrived early. It is essential for any conversation involving a sequence of events.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use antes when you mean 'formerly' in a professional title. For that, use ex-. Avoid using it alone if the listener doesn't know the context. If you just say Eu cheguei antes, they will ask 'Before what?'. Don't confuse it with antigamente, which means 'in the old days'. Antes is usually about specific points in time, not vague eras.
Cultural Background
Portuguese speakers value social time, but antes is key for logistics. In Brazil, 'chegar antes' (arriving before/early) is a polite surprise. In Portugal, punctuality is often more strictly observed. There is a famous saying: Antes só do que mal acompanhado. This means 'Better alone than in bad company'. It shows the word's power to express preference and life philosophy.
Common Variations
Antes de mais nada is a great way to say 'First of all'. Quanto antes means 'as soon as possible'. You might hear antes pelo contrário, which means 'on the contrary'. In casual speech, people might just say antes! to mean 'I'd rather!'. These variations help you sound like a local rather than a textbook.
使い方のコツ
Use 'antes' for all levels of formality. Just remember to pair it with 'de' when followed by a noun or verb to ensure grammatical correctness.
The 'De' Rule
If there is a word after 'antes', you almost always need 'de'. 'Antes de você', 'Antes de comer'.
Avoid 'Ago'
Never use 'antes' to mean 'ago'. This is the #1 mistake for English speakers.
Subjunctive Shortcut
If you use 'antes que', just remember the next verb will likely end in -e (for -ar verbs) or -a (for -er/-ir verbs).
Politeness
Using 'antes' to correct yourself ('ou antes...') makes you sound very sophisticated and precise.
例文
6Eu quero um café antes da comida.
I want a coffee before the food.
Using 'antes de' + 'a' becomes 'da'.
Podemos falar antes da reunião?
Can we talk before the meeting?
Standard professional use for time management.
Cheguei antes! Estou na mesa do fundo.
I arrived early! I'm at the back table.
Here 'antes' acts as an adverb meaning 'earlier than expected'.
Antes morrer do que perder a vida!
I'd rather die than lose my life!
A classic humorous/ironic Brazilian joke using 'antes' for preference.
Eu preciso de um tempo para mim antes de sair.
I need some time for myself before going out.
Expressing a personal need in a sequence.
Lave as mãos antes de comer.
Wash your hands before eating.
A very common daily command.
自分をテスト
Complete the sentence with 'antes de' or 'antes que'.
Eu sempre bebo água _______ dormir.
We use 'antes de' followed by an infinitive verb (dormir).
Choose the correct form of the verb.
Saia de casa antes que _______ a chover.
'Antes que' requires the subjunctive mood (comece).
Match the Portuguese phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are common idiomatic uses of 'antes' and its variations.
What is the most natural response?
Amigo: 'Você quer ir ao cinema agora?' Você: '_______, eu preciso passar no banco.'
'Antes' indicates that the bank visit must happen first.
🎉 スコア： /4
ビジュアル学習ツール
練習問題バンク
4 問題Eu sempre bebo água _______ dormir.
We use 'antes de' followed by an infinitive verb (dormir).
Saia de casa antes que _______ a chover.
'Antes que' requires the subjunctive mood (comece).
左の各項目を右のペアと一致させてください:
These are common idiomatic uses of 'antes' and its variations.
Amigo: 'Você quer ir ao cinema agora?' Você: '_______, eu preciso passar no banco.'
'Antes' indicates that the bank visit must happen first.
🎉 スコア： /4
よくある質問
12 問Yes, it is common in Brazil, but 'antes que' is more standard in formal writing.
The opposite is 'depois' (after).
You can say 'anteontem'.
No, use 'na frente de' for physical location.
No, 'antes' is an adverb and is invariable.
Use it in formal writing or when you want to say 'previously'.
It means 'first of all' or 'before anything else'.
Yes, in expressions of preference like 'Antes eu do que ele'.
It functions as a preposition when paired with 'de'.
Use the phrase 'o quanto antes'.
It's an old adverbial marker from Latin/Old Portuguese.
Yes, as an adverb: 'Eu já sabia antes'.
関連フレーズ
Depois
contrastAfter
Anterior
similarPrevious
Antigamente
specialized formIn the old days
O quanto antes
builds onAs soon as possible
Antes de mais nada
idiomFirst of all
