先
先·previous, ahead
- On-yomi
- セン
- Kun-yomi
- さき
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 先生 | せんせい | teacher |
| 先週 | せんしゅう | last week |
| 先月 | せんげつ | last month |
| 先 | さき | ahead, the tip |
Example sentences
田中さんは日本語の先生です。
たなかさんはにほんごのせんせいです。
Mr. Tanaka is a Japanese teacher.
先週映画を見ました。
せんしゅうえいがをみました。
I watched a movie last week.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up 先 and 生 inside the word 先生
Memory aid
Picture it
Legs 儿 stepping out in front: someone who goes ahead of you.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 先生せんせいteacher
- 先週せんしゅうlast week
- 先月せんげつlast month
- 先さきahead; the tip; earlier
- お先にどうぞおさきにどうぞafter you, go ahead
- 先輩せんぱいsenior (at school/work)
- 取引先とりひきさきclient, business partner
- 得意先とくいさきregular customer
- 行き先いきさきdestination
- お先に失礼しますおさきにしつれいしますexcuse me for leaving first
- 先ずまずfirst (of all), to start with; (with a negative) hardly, almost certainly not
- 先日せんじつthe other day, a few days ago
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 1 of 5
What does the kanji 先 mean?