What is the difference between "以前" and "依然"?

"以前" means "formerly, previously, before" (N3), whereas "依然" represents "still, as before, as ever" (N2).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "いぜん (izen)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

いぜん (izen)

N3 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

いぜん (izen)

N2 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "いぜん (izen)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

以前 (Level: N3): Translates to "formerly, previously, before" and is used when Refers to a period of time before the present. Often used with past tense..
依然 (Level: N2): Maps to "still, as before, as ever" and carries the nuance of Indicates that a situation or state continues unchanged despite expectations or the passage of time. Often used in formal contexts or writing, frequently with 「として」..

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "以前"

以前は東京に住んでいました。

I used to live in Tokyo before.

Bilingual Context for "依然"

状況は依然として厳しい。

The situation remains severe as ever.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: " ＿＿＿は東京に住んでいました。" (Meaning: "I used to live in Tokyo before.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "以前" is used for "formerly, previously, before" in the context: "I used to live in Tokyo before.".