(ぜん) (n-pref) (1) (See 前・まえ) the last (i.e. immediately preceding) (e.g. "the last mayor"); previous; one-time; former; (2) (before the name of an era) pre- (e.g. "premodern"); (adj-no,n) (3) before; earlier; (P) [EDICT]
(まえ) (n-adv,n-t,suf) (1) (See 前・ぜん) ago; before (some event); previously; (minutes) to (the hour); (2) in front (of); before (e.g. the house); (3) head (of a line); front (e.g. of a bus); fore part; (4) in the presence of; (5) (See 人前・にんまえ) helping; portion; (6) privates; private parts; (P) [EDICT]
(qián, ㄑㄧㄢˊ) before; in front; ago; former; previous; earlier; front [CE-DICT]
北
(きた) (n) north; (P) [EDICT]
(běi, ㄅㄟˇ) north [CE-DICT]
シリア
() (adj-na,n) serious; (P) [EDICT]
の
() (prt) endorsing and questioning the preceding statement (sentence ending particle); lamenting reflections on the preceding statement (sentence ending particle) [EDICT]
() (prt) (1) although; when; and yet; despite this; in spite of; even though; but even so; but even then; however; nevertheless; for all that; notwithstanding that; (2) while; (3) if only; I wish; (4) I tell you; you should do; (5) in order to; (P) [EDICT]