Japanese word

先

Pronunciation

Romajisaki

Meaning

  • nounahead

Example

先に行きます。saki ni i ki ma su

I will go ahead.

Illustration for 先 (ahead)

More examples

この道の先に学校があります。ko no michi no saki ni gak kō ga a ri ma su

There is a school ahead on this road.

この道の先に駅があります。ko no michi no saki ni eki ga a ri ma su

There is a station farther down this road.

Core concept

Identifies what comes before something in time, lies ahead of it in space, or forms its tip or endpoint.

Common phrases

  • 先に行くsaki ni i ku

    go ahead

Similar words

前mae: A place or time in front of or earlier than a reference point.
前方zenpō: The area or direction in front of a person or thing.

Definition in Japanese

基準となる場所や時点より前の位置。また、物の先端や行き着く所。ki jun to na ru ba sho ya ji ten yo ri mae no i chi ma ta mono no sen tan ya i ki tsu ku tokoro

Word origin

The native Japanese word 先 (saki, "ahead") is not formed from Chinese readings; its spelling uses 先, a character whose basic meaning is "before" or "ahead."

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 先 (saki) can refer to the next part of a route or process, so 先の話 (saki no hanashi) means a matter for later discussion.

Other meanings

  • beforenoun
  • tipnoun
  • endnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word