What does ～に先駆けて mean? Japanese grammar N1

Forming it

How to use it

Doing something EARLIER than other parties; emphasizes being a pioneer. Formal.

• 「～に先駆けて」 = do something before other parties, taking the lead: 「他社に先駆けて発売する」.
• Emphasizes being a PIONEER, unlike 「～に先立って」 (simply happening before an event, more about preparation).
• A is the target/scope being surpassed.

Examples

• 同社(どうしゃ)は他社(たしゃ)に先駆(さきが)けて新(しん)製品(せいひん)を発売(はつばい)した。

  The company launched the new product ahead of its competitors.

• この技術(ぎじゅつ)は世界(せかい)に先駆(さきが)けて実用(じつよう)化(か)された。

  This technology was put to practical use ahead of the rest of the world.

Keep in mind

• A is the one being outpaced, not a preparatory event.
• Formal, often used in news reports.

Common mistakes

• Wrong会議(かいぎ)に先駆(さきが)けて、資料(しりょう)を配(くば)った。

  Before the meeting, the materials were handed out.

  Correct会議(かいぎ)に先立(さきだ)って、資料(しりょう)を配(くば)った。

  PREPARING for an event beforehand uses 「に先立って」; 「に先駆けて」 emphasizes going ahead of OTHER PARTIES.

• Wrongこれは他社(たしゃ)に先駆(さきが)けての製品(せいひん)だ。

  This is a product that got ahead of other companies.

  Correctこれは他社(たしゃ)に先駆(さきが)けた製品(せいひん)だ。

  As a modifier, use 「に先駆けた／に先駆ける + N」.

Exam tips

• 「に先駆けて」 = ahead of other parties (pioneering); different from 「に先立って」 (preparing before an event).

Related patterns

• ～に先立って
• ～に先んじて
• ～を皮切りに