先

ahead; before; previous; future; precedence

6 strokes. Taught in grade 1. Newspaper frequency rank 173.

Readings

• セン (on reading): 先生 (せんせい) teacher; 先週 (せんしゅう) last week
• さき (kun reading): 先 (さき) first; 先立つ (さきだつ) to lead
• まず (kun reading): 先ず隗より始めよ (まずかいよりはじめよ) start with the first step; 将を射んと欲すれば先ず馬を射よ (しょうをいんとほっすればまずうまをいよ) do not shoot straight for the top

Components

• 儿
• ノ radical slash, katakana no
• 儿 radical legs
• 土 radical earth

Kanji containing 先

• 洗 wash
• 筅 bamboo whisk for tea-making
• 跣 barefooted
• 銑 pig iron
• 濳 hide
• 贊 help

Words using 先

• 先生 (せんせい) teacher
• 先週 (せんしゅう) last week
• 先輩 (せんぱい) senior (at school, work, etc.)
• 先日 (せんじつ) the other day
• 先発 (せんぱつ) starting in advance
• 先 (さき) first
• 先立つ (さきだつ) to lead
• 連絡先 (れんらくさき) contact information (address, phone number, etc.)
• この先 (このさき) beyond this point
• 出先 (でさき) one's destination
• 先ず隗より始めよ (まずかいよりはじめよ) start with the first step
• 将を射んと欲すれば先ず馬を射よ (しょうをいんとほっすればまずうまをいよ) do not shoot straight for the top
• 甘井先ず竭く (かんせいまずつく) the flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long
• 先生 (シーサン) man

630 words in all.

Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists