Japanese Conversation · Level 48
90 words
Japanese word
先代
Pronunciation
Romajisendai
Meaning
- nounpredecessor
Example
先代は社員に慕われていました。sen dai wa sha in ni shita wa re te i ma shi ta
The predecessor was loved by the employees.
More examples
新しい社長は先代から仕事の進め方を学びました。atara shi i sha chō wa sen dai ka ra shi goto no susu me kata o mana bi ma shi ta
The new president learned how to do the job from the predecessor.
Core concept
Points to whoever or whatever belongs to the generation or position immediately before the current one.
Common phrases
先代の方針sen dai no hō shin
the predecessor's policy
先代の教えsen dai no oshi e
the predecessor's teachings
Similar words
前任者zenninsha: A person who held the same position immediately before the current holder.
先任者senninsha: A person who previously held a position, especially in a formal organization.
Definition in Japanese
現在の世代や当主などの一つ前に当たる人、特に前任の当主や亡父を指す語。gen zai no se dai ya tō shu na do no hito tsu mae ni a ta ru hito toku ni zen nin no tō shu ya bō fu o sa su go
Word origin
The compound 先 (sen, "before") + 代 (dai, "generation" or "era") describes what belongs to the preceding generation or period.
Usage tips
- A Japanese shop or family may call its former head 先代 (sendai), a usage that often requires a more specific English expression than the single word predecessor.
Other meanings
- late fathernoun
- previous generationnoun
- previous headnoun
Opposites
- 後任kōninsuccessornoun