Korean word

앞서다

Pronunciation

Romanizationapsseoda

Meaning

  • verbbe ahead

Example

그 팀이 경기에서 앞서고 있다.keu ti mi kyeong gi e seo ap sseo go it tta

That team is ahead in the game.

Illustration for 앞서다 (be ahead)

More examples

그 회사는 신제품으로 경쟁사보다 한 발 앞서고 있다.keu hoe sa neun sin je pu meu ro kyeong jaeng sa bo da han pal ap sseo go it tta

That company is one step ahead of its competitors with its new product.

Core concept

Moving before others or holding the lead as something develops.

Common phrases

  • 한 발 앞서다han pal ap sseo da

    be one step ahead

  • 경쟁에서 앞서다kyeong jaeng e seo ap sseo da

    be ahead of the competition

Similar words

앞서가다apsseogada: Make faster progress during travel, work, or another activity.
리드하다rideuhada: Hold the lead in points, rankings, or competition results.
앞장서다apjjangseoda: Take the front position and guide a group forward.

Definition in Korean

시간적으로 먼저 있거나 어떤 일보다 먼저 일어남을 나타내는 동사로, 순서나 진행 면에서 선행함을 뜻한다.si gan jeo geu ro meon jeo it kkeo na eo tteon il bo da meon jeo i reo na meul na ta nae neun tong sa ro sun seo na chin haeng myeo ne seo seon haeng ha meul tteu tan da

Word origin

The word grew from the concrete idea of standing in front, which naturally came to describe coming earlier or gaining a lead.

Usage tips

  • In news and explanations, context may show whether it refers to something happening earlier or to being ahead in a race or competition.

Other meanings

  • go ahead ofverb
  • outpaceverb

Opposites

  • 뒤처지다twicheojidafall behindverb

Related words

Word lists with this word