Japanese word

先に

Pronunciation

Romajisakini

Meaning

  • adverbfirst

Example

私は先に帰ります。watashi wa saki ni kae ri ma su

I will leave first.

Illustration for 先に (first)

More examples

朝起きたら、先に顔を洗います。asa o ki ta ra saki ni kao o ara i ma su

When I wake up, I wash my face first.

必要なものは、先に準備しておきます。hitsu yō na mo no wa saki ni jun bi shi te o ki ma su

I will prepare what I need in advance.

Core concept

Places an action or event ahead of another one in time or order.

Common phrases

  • 先に行くsaki ni i ku

    go ahead

  • 先に帰るsaki ni kae ru

    leave first

  • 先に決めるsaki ni ki me ru

    decide beforehand

  • 先に予約するsaki ni yo yaku su ru

    book in advance

  • 先に準備するsaki ni jun bi su ru

    prepare beforehand

Similar words

まずmazu: It marks the first step in a sequence or the first point to address.
前もってmaemotte: It indicates that something happens or is prepared before the relevant time.
あらかじめarakajime: It indicates that something is done in advance as preparation for a later event.

Definition in Japanese

他の人や物より前に、または予定された時点より前に行うさま。hoka no hito ya mono yo ri mae ni ma ta wa yo tei sa re ta ji ten yo ri mae ni okona u sa ma

Word origin

先に (saki ni) comes from the noun 先 (saki, "ahead") followed by the particle に (ni), giving the phrase the sense of acting or occurring ahead of something else.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese conversation, 先に (saki ni) can politely signal that one person will leave or act before the group, especially at the end of a shared activity.

Other meanings

  • beforeadverb
  • beforehandadverb
  • earlieradverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word