先

音読おんよみ: セン

訓読くんよみ: さき

画数かくすう: 6 strokes

部首ぶしゅ: 儿(ひとあし)

Meaning

Before;
ahead in time, place, or rank.

  • 先日せんじつ — the other day / a few days ago
  • 先頭せんとう — front / head (of a line, group)
  • 先行せんこう — precedence / going ahead
  • さき — destination
  • 指先ゆびさき — fingertips
  • 先輩せんぱい — senior / upperclassman

先生せんせい — this word literally means “one who was born before” or “one who came ahead,” highlighting the respectful notion of someone with prior experience or knowledge.

“先” expresses both direction and order — whether someone walks ahead, speaks first, or has greater experience.

さきってください。
Please go ahead.

せんせい英語えいごせんぱいです。
The teacher is a senior in English studies.

日
Creates
先日せんじつ:The other day
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