先
先

before, ahead, previous, future, precedence

6 strokesFrequency 173JLPT N4Grade 1

On

セン

Kun

さきま.ず

Nanori

ぽん

Memory

Memory Mnemonics

Keywords

before

Constituents

儿human legs
牛cow

Mnemonic Stories

The farmer's day has a strict order. Before he can walk to the market on his own two human legs, he must first milk the cow.

Before the invention of the tractor, a farmer's two greatest assets were a strong cow for plowing and strong human legs for walking the fields.

Before you track mud into the house, stomp your human legs on the outside soil until the last drop of rain has been shaken from your boots.

Dictionary

Common Words

先前さき先きNounFreq #328
1

point; tip; end; nozzle

Examples
鉛筆の先が丸くなった。
The point of the pencil has become dull.
2

head (of a line); front

3

first; before; ahead (of)

Examples
二人の男のうち、背の高い方が先に出ていった。
The taller of the two men went out first.
4

(the way) ahead; beyond

Examples
ここから先には行けません。
You cannot go any farther.
5

Nouns which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

future

Examples
先の事など誰にも予想できない。
You never can tell what'll happen in the future.
6

Nouns which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

previous; prior; former; recent; last

7

Noun, used as a suffix

destination; address; place where you do something

Examples
で、電話してみたらしいんだけど、その電話先の相手ってのが問題だったのよ。
And so it seems she tried phoning but it's who was on the other end of that phone that was the problem.
8

rest (e.g. of a story); continuation; remaining part

Examples
それから先の話を聞きたい。
I'd like to know the rest of the story.
9

the other party

先にさきに曩にAdverbFreq #331
1

previously; before; earlier; formerly; recently

2

first; before (something or someone else); ahead (of); earlier

Examples
私が先にそこへ着くよ。
I'll get there before you will.
3

beforehand; in advance; ahead of time

Examples
その情報は発表するより先に新聞に漏れた。
The information was given away to the newspaper prior to the announcement.
まず先ずAdverbUsually kanaFreq #394
1

first (of all); firstly; to begin with; before anything else

Examples
まず第一に私はジムを訪ねなければならない。
First of all, I have to call on Jim.
2

probably; most likely; almost certainly; virtually

Examples
あのチームは、あるとしても、まず優勝の望みはない。
That team has little, if any, chance of winning.
3

more or less (satisfactory); on the whole; reasonably

4

anyway; at any rate; for now (at least); for the time being

先生せんせいNounFreq #485
1

teacher; instructor; master

Examples
われわれの先生は真の意味で紳士です。
Our teacher is a gentleman in the true sense of the word.
2

Honorific; Noun, used as a suffix

sensei; title or form of address for a teacher, master, doctor, lawyer, etc.

Examples
ぼくはジョーンズ先生に作文を直してもらった。
I had my composition corrected by Mr Jones.
3

Familiar; Jocular, humorous term

intimate or teasing form of address

4

Archaic; Orig. meaning

one's elder

さっき先NounAdverbUsually kanaFreq #500
1

a short while ago; a moment ago; just now; some time ago

Examples
いいからさっき盗ったモノを、カバンの中から出しなさい。
Never mind that, just take out what you've just nicked from your bag.
まずは先ずはAdverbUsually kanaFreq #799
1

More emphatic than まず

first of all; to begin with; before anything else

Examples
まずは公式を暗記しなさい。
First of all, learn the formula by heart.
2

probably; most likely; almost certainly; virtually

3

more or less (satisfactory); on the whole; reasonably

4

anyway; at any rate; for now (at least); for the time being

先輩せんぱいNounFreq #1312
1

senior (at work or school); superior; elder; older graduate; progenitor; old-timer

Examples
私たちは彼をよき先輩として尊敬している。
We respect him as a good senior.
先ほど先程さきほどNounAdverbFreq #1469
1

a short while ago; a moment ago; just now; some time ago

Examples
つい先ほど君のお父さんに会いました。
I met your father just now.
先日せんじつNounAdverbFreq #1948
1

the other day; a few days ago

Examples
先日小学校のクラス会に出席した。
The other day I attended a class reunion of my elementary school.
この先このさき此の先Noun～の Adj.AdverbFreq #2061
1

beyond this point; ahead

Examples
この先の道は凍結してるよ。
The road ahead is frozen.
2

from now on; after this; in the future

Examples
この先何が起こるか誰もわからない。
None of us knows what is in store for us.
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