Kanji

What does the kanji 先 mean?

先 means ahead, earlier (also used honorifically for a teacher or senior). On'yomi セン. Kun'yomi さき、ま.ず.

Quick facts
On'yomi	セン
Kun'yomi	さき、ま.ず
Strokes	6
Main radical	儿
Level (estimated, JLPT framework)	N5

先On'yomi センKun'yomi さき、ま.ず

N5 · estimated, JLPT framework6 strokes

ahead, earlier (also used honorifically for a teacher or senior)

Memory hook

Legs (儿) striding out in front of everyone else — AHEAD, EARLIER.

Main radical

儿legs 2 strokes

Built from

Stroke order · 6 strokes

1
2
3
4
5
6

Common words

先さきahead, before; the tip, the end
先月せんげつlast month
先週せんしゅうlast week

More words with this kanji

先生せんせいteacher
先輩せんぱいsenior, upperclassman
先日せんじつthe other day
先行せんこうprecedence, going ahead
先祖せんぞancestors
先端せんたんtip, point; the cutting edge, forefront
先頭せんとうthe front, the lead position
宛先あてさきrecipient's address, destination
祖先そせんancestors
お先におさきにexcuse me for going ahead, doing this first
真っ先まっさきfirst of all, foremost
先程さきほどa moment ago, just now
先々月せんせんげつthe month before last
先々週せんせんしゅうthe week before last
優先ゆうせんpriority, precedence
先代せんだいpredecessor, previous generation
先方せんぽうthe other party, the other side (formal business term)
先着せんちゃくfirst-come, first arrival
先天的せんてんてきcongenital, innate
勤め先つとめさきworkplace
先だってせんだってthe other day, recently
先せんbefore, priority; the first move
優先順位を見直すゆうせんじゅんいをみなおすto review the order of priority

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