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N5

Kanji 先: meanings, readings, and example words.

3 min read

Kanji 先: before, ahead, previous, future, precedence

Key takeaways

Kanji 先: before, ahead, previous, future, precedence. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

N5

Meaning

beforeaheadpreviousfutureprecedence

On reading

セン

Kun reading

さきま.ず

Radical

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 先

before, ahead, previous, future, precedence

Kanji structure breakdown

Structure breakdown

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

This kanji shows a person (儿) using their legs to take a step forward. It represents the idea of moving ahead of others, thus meaning 'first' or 'before' in terms of time and position.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

セン
  • 先行せんこう

    preceding / going first

  • 先先月せんせんげつ

    month before last

  • 先先週せんせんしゅう

    week before last

  • 先代せんだい

    previous generation / predecessor

  • 先だってせんだって

    recently / the other day

  • 先着せんちゃく

    first come, first served

  • 先天的せんてんてき

    inborn / innate / congenital

  • 優先ゆうせん

    priority / precedence

Kun reading

さき
  • お先におさきに

    before / ahead / previously

  • 先にさきに

    before / earlier / ahead

  • 勤め先つとめさき

    place of work / workplace

  • 先程さきほど

    a little while ago / some time ago

  • 真っ先まっさき

    foremost / at the head / first to do

  • 先ずまず

    first / first of all

  • さき

    ahead / previous / before

Commonly used words

  • 先行
    せんこう

    preceding / going first

  • 先先月
    せんせんげつ

    month before last

  • 先先週
    せんせんしゅう

    week before last

  • 先代
    せんだい

    previous generation / predecessor

  • 先だって
    せんだって

    recently / the other day

  • 先着
    せんちゃく

    first come, first served

  • お先に
    おさきに

    before / ahead / previously

  • 先に
    さきに

    before / earlier / ahead

  • 勤め先
    つとめさき

    place of work / workplace

  • 先程
    さきほど

    a little while ago / some time ago

  • 真っ先
    まっさき

    foremost / at the head / first to do

  • 先ず
    まず

    first / first of all

Example sentences

Example 1

に失礼します。

Translation

I’ll leave before you.

Example 2

にどうぞ。

Translation

Please go ahead.

Example 3

会議はに始まりました。

Translation

The meeting started earlier.

Example 4

に行って待っています。

Translation

I'll go ahead and wait.

Kanji 先: before, ahead, previous, future, precedence | Daily Nihongo