以前

いぜん

Before, Not even, Before even, Precede, Far from

それは古ふるいか新あたらしいか以前いぜんの問題もんだいだと思おもう。

I think that is a problem before worrying about whether it is new or old.

Explanation

Here 「N以前」 does not mean 'before N' but 'not even at the most basic level'. It criticizes something as so poor that it lacks even basic common sense, morals or minimum standards, so higher questions do not even arise: 「ゴミのポイ捨ては、法律以前の道徳心の問題だ」 (Littering is a matter of basic manners, even before the law), 「美味しい不味い以前に、料理が生焼けで食べられない」 (Never mind whether it's tasty or not; the food is undercooked and can't be eaten). Common endings are 「〜以前の問題だ」 and 「〜以前の話だ」; 「〜以前に、……」 also works. The tone is strong dissatisfaction.

Mixed up with

「〜以前の問題だ」: doesn't even reach the minimum bar, so further demands are out of the question.

「〜どころではない」: the situation is urgent or you are too busy, so there is no room to do it.

「〜はおろか」: can't do even the basics, let alone anything advanced.

Easily confused with以前・どころではない・はおろか: the difference ›

Examples

人ひとのことを心配しんぱいする以前いぜんに自分じぶんの心配しんぱいをしろ！
Before worrying about others, worry about yourself!
パフォーマンス以前いぜんの問題もんだいで、基本きほん的てきな機能きのうを実装じっそうする必要ひつようがあります。
Performance isn't even the issue yet; first you need to implement the basic functions.
ポイ捨すては法律ほうりつ以前いぜんの道義どうぎ的てきな問題もんだいだ。
When it comes to littering, before even the law, it is a moral issue.
安全あんぜんか危険きけんか以前いぜんに、それは法律ほうりつで禁きんじられているので試ためすこともできません。
Never mind whether it's safe or dangerous. It's prohibited by law, so you can't even try it.
お前まえが結婚けっこんできないのは顔かお以前いぜんの問題もんだいだよ。お前まえは性格せいかくが悪わるすぎる。
Your face is far from the reason you cannot get married. You have a bad personality.
彼かれは、自分じぶんが女おんなの子こにモテないのはファッションがださいからだと思おもってる。それは事実じじつだけど、それ以前いぜんの問題もんだいとして、彼かれは性格せいかくに問題もんだいがある。
He believes that he is not popular with girls due to his bad fashion sense. While that is true, even before that, he has issues with his personality.
信しんじる信しんじない以前いぜんの、もっと根本こんぽん的てきな問題もんだいなんだよ。先まずどうにか彼女かのじょにこの事ことを伝つたえなきゃ。
It's a more basic problem than whether she believes it or not. First I have to find a way to tell her about this.
食たべずに「ブロッコリーが嫌きらい」という人ひともいます。好すき嫌きらい以前いぜんに、食たべてみることが大事だいじなのです。食たべた上うえで、好すき嫌きらいはご自由じゆうに。
There are people who say 'I don't like broccoli' without ever eating it. Before liking or disliking it, what matters is trying it. Once you've eaten it, like it or not as you please.
Ａ：「結婚式けっこんしきでクラゲのようなウェディングドレスを着きたいわ。」Ｂ：「それ以前いぜんに先まずは交際こうさいを始はじめたら？」
A: 'I want to wear a wedding dress that looks like jellyfish at my wedding.' B: 'Before that, how about starting to date first?'
勉強べんきょうへの意欲いよくがあるかどうかは能力のうりょく以前いぜんの問題もんだいだ。
Whether someone is motivated to study is a matter that comes before ability.
上司じょうしが部下ぶかに：「間違まちがいは修正しゅうせいし終おわったとあなたはいつも言いうが、それ以前いぜんに、なぜその間違まちがいをするのかを考かんがえるほうが重要じゅうようだよ。」
Boss to the subordinate: 'You always say that you are done correcting your mistakes, but before that, it is more important to think about why you make those mistakes.'
Ａ：「彼女かのじょが来くるかどうか心配しんぱいだよ」Ｂ：「来くる来こない以前いぜんに、まず誘さそってみてね。」
A: 'I am worried that she won't come.' B: 'Before worrying about whether she comes or not you should try inviting her first.'
行動こうどうしない人ひとには何なにも始はじまらない。できるできない以前いぜんに、まずは行動こうどうすることが必要ひつようである。
Nothing starts for people who do not act. First of all, it is necessary to take action, before worrying about being able to do it or not.
Ａ：「なんで海うみに行いきたくないんだ？海うみ、嫌きらい？」Ｂ：「興味きょうみがないから好すき嫌きらい以前いぜんの話はなし。」
A: 'Why don't you want to go to the sea? You dislike it?' B: 'Before any preferences, I simply am not interested.'
かわいそうな野の猫ねこをみる時とき、かえで：「この猫ねこ、小ちいさくてかわいいし、めっちゃ飼かいたい！」かなこ：「それ以前いぜんに賃貸ちんたいアパートで動物どうぶつを飼かってもいいのか？」
Seeing a poor stray cat, Kaede: 'This cat is so small and cute, I really want to keep it!' Kanako: 'Before that, are we even allowed to keep animals in a rented apartment?'