Before The Common Era
BCE, Before Christ, BC
noun
Remember how 紀元後 is "Common Era", or "anno Domini"? Well, this is the opposite because it has before (前) instead of 後. It's Before the Common Era or Before Christ.
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you'll know how to read this as well. It will also help if you know how to read 紀元後 already, because then you'll just have to remember the 前.
ティラノサウルスがいたのは、紀元前何年ごろまでですか。
Until what year B.C. was the Tyrannosaurus present?
もしタイムマシーンがあったなら、紀元前三千年紀に行ってみたいな。
If time machines existed, I would want to go to 3000 BCE.
今日のコウイチは、自分は紀元前の古代ローマからタイムスリップしてきた男だって言ってきかないんです。
Today, Koichi insists that he is a man who has traveled back in time from ancient Rome, B.C.