What is the difference between "ごぜん" and "午前"?

"ごぜん" means "A.M.; morning" (N5), whereas "午前" represents "A.M.; morning" (N5).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "ごぜん (gozen)"

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

Kanji Option A

ごぜん (gozen)

N5 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

ごぜん (gozen)

N5 / CEFR

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

ごぜん (Level: N5): Translates to "A.M.; morning" and is used when Used to specify time, referring to the period from midnight.
午前 (Level: N5): Maps to "A.M.; morning" and carries the nuance of Used to specify time before noon.

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

Bilingual Context for "ごぜん"

会議は午前10時に始まります。

The meeting starts at 10 A.M.

Bilingual Context for "午前"

会議は午前10時からです。

The meeting starts at 10 AM.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "会議は午前10時に始まります。" (Meaning: "The meeting starts at 10 A.M.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "ごぜん" is used for "A.M.; morning" in the context: "The meeting starts at 10 A.M.".