Moto 先: Before; Ahead; PreviousKanji meaning, readings, and the words that use it
- On'yomi
- セン
- Kun'yomi
- さき、ま(ず)
- Level
- JLPT N5Jōyō, grade 1
- Words
- 648 in the dictionary
Words that use the on'yomi (セン)
- 先月せんげつlast month
- 先生せんせいteacher; instructor
- 先進国せんしんこくadvanced (developed) country; advanced nations
- 優先ゆうせんpreference; priority
- 先進せんしんadvanced; developed
- 先頭せんとうhead; lead
- 先行せんこうgoing ahead; going first
- 先週せんしゅうlast week; the week before
- 先住せんじゅうoriginal inhabitant; aboriginal
- 先制せんせいhead start; initiative
- 先日せんじつthe other day; a few days ago
- 先端せんたんpointed end; tip
- 最先端さいせんたんcutting edge; leading edge
- 先手せんてfirst move (in go, shogi, etc.); moving first
- 先着せんちゃくarriving first
- 先祖せんぞancestor
- 先決せんけつdeciding first; settling (a matter) first
- 先取せんしゅearning the first (runs); preoccupation
- 先遣せんけんsending ahead
- 先駆せんくforerunner; precursor
- 祖先そせんancestor
- 優先的ゆうせんてきpreferential
- 先代せんだいprevious generation (e.g. one's parents); family predecessor
- 先例せんれいprecedent
- 先導せんどうguidance; leadership
- 先見せんけんforesight; anticipation
- 先陣せんじんvanguard; advance guard
- 先入観せんにゅうかんpreconception; preconceived notion
- 先人せんじんpredecessor; pioneer
- 優先権ゆうせんけんpriority; preference
Words that use a kun'yomi
- 先にさきにpreviously; before
- 先送りさきおくりpostpone
- 先物さきものfutures; futures contract
- 先行きさきゆきthe future; future prospects
- 目先めさきbefore one's eyes; under one's nose
- 真っ先まっさきthe head; the foremost
- 矢先やさきarrowhead
- 先駆けるさきがけるto be the first
- 春先はるさきbeginning of spring
- 行き先いきさきdestination
- 先駆けさきがけpioneer; leader
- 指先ゆびさきfingertip; finger
- 送り先おくりさきforwarding address
- 小手先こてさきtip of the hand; (use of) one's hands
- 先安さきやすlower future quotations
- 勤め先つとめさきplace of work
- 得意先とくいさき(regular) customer; client
- 旅先たびさきdestination; goal (of travel)
- 矛先ほこさきpoint of spear; spearhead
- 口先くちさきlip service; mere words
- 店先みせさきstorefront; shopfront
- 先取りさきどりreceiving in advance (e.g. wages, interest); taking before others
- つま先つまさきtoes; tips of the toes
- ペン先ペンさきpen nibs
- 一先ずひとまずfor now; for the time being
- 仕入れ先しいれさきsupplier
Other readings
- 先発せんぱつstarting in advance; starting first
- 先輩せんぱいsenior (at work or school); superior
- 先々さきざきdistant future; inevitable future
- 先方せんぽうother party; other side
Showing the 60 most common of 648 words. See them all in the graph.
Kanji that often appear with 先
Every word here opens into its own kanji. Follow the branches in Moto.
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