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What is the Kanji for 'Before' and 'Previous'? | 先

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for 'Before' and 'Previous', you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for 'Before' and 'Previous' is 先.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Before, Previous

    Reading

    kunyomiさき

    saki

    onyomiせん

    sen

    Parts

    Legs Soil 丿Katakana no

    Example Word

    指先: fingertip. The Japanese noun '指先 (ゆびさき)' refers to the very end of a finger, specifically the 'fingertip'. It is commonly used to describe the part of the finger that is most sensitive and often used for touching or manipulating objects. For example: I touched it with my fingertip「指先で触りました」(ゆびさきでさわりました). The artist painted with her fingertips「その芸術家は指先で絵を描きました」(そのげいじゅつかはゆびさきでえをかきました). This word is often used in contexts involving fine motor skills, sensation, or delicate tasks.

    Radical

    Stroke Count

    6

    JLPT

    N5

    Grade

    1

    Frequency

    66

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 3 parts:

    radical

    Meaning

    Legs

    kanji

    Meaning

    Soil

    radical

    丿

    Meaning

    Katakana no

As Part Of Other Kanji

This kanji appears as part of one other kanji:

    kanji

    Meaning

    Wash

Words Using

This kanji is used in 21 words:

    word

    Meaning

    Ahead, Tip

    word

    先生

    Meaning

    Teacher

    word

    先ず

    Meaning

    First

    word

    先月

    Meaning

    Last month

    word

    先週

    Meaning

    Last week

    word

    先程

    Meaning

    Earlier

    word

    先に

    Meaning

    Before

    word

    先輩

    Meaning

    Senior

    word

    優先

    Meaning

    Priority

    word

    先日

    Meaning

    Recently

    word

    最先端

    Meaning

    Cutting edge

    word

    宛先

    Meaning

    Address

    word

    先端

    Meaning

    Tip, Cutting edge

    word

    先進

    Meaning

    Advancement

    word

    先祖

    Meaning

    Ancestor

    word

    先行

    Meaning

    Precedence

    word

    先頭

    Meaning

    Front

    word

    真っ先

    Meaning

    Forefront

    word

    指先

    Meaning

    Fingertip

    word

    勤め先

    Meaning

    Workplace

    word

    祖先

    Meaning

    Ancestor

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 12 kanji contain the part 儿 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Four

    kanji

    Meaning

    See

    kanji

    Meaning

    Light

    kanji

    Meaning

    Older brother

    kanji

    西

    Meaning

    West

    kanji

    Meaning

    Origin

    kanji

    Meaning

    Excuse, Exempt

    kanji

    Meaning

    Equal, Counter for animals

    kanji

    Meaning

    Child

    kanji

    Meaning

    Overcome

    kanji

    Meaning

    Demon, Ogre

    kanji

    Meaning

    Tiger

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 60 kanji contain the part 土 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Life

    kanji

    Meaning

    King

    kanji

    Meaning

    Red

    kanji

    Meaning

    Corner, Angle

    kanji

    Meaning

    Place

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ground

    kanji

    Meaning

    Garden

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hometown

    kanji

    Meaning

    Temple

    kanji

    Meaning

    Run

    kanji

    Meaning

    Company

    kanji

    Meaning

    Past

    kanji

    Meaning

    Increase

    kanji

    Meaning

    Slope

    kanji

    Meaning

    Base, Fundation

    kanji

    Meaning

    Happiness

    kanji

    Meaning

    Salt

    kanji

    Meaning

    Boy, Sonny

    kanji

    Meaning

    Castle

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hall

    kanji

    Meaning

    Private school, Cram school

    kanji

    Meaning

    Equal, Even

    kanji

    Meaning

    Demolition, Break down

    kanji

    Meaning

    Boundary, Border

    kanji

    Meaning

    Pressure

    kanji

    Meaning

    Area, Limits

    kanji

    Meaning

    Arrive, Climax

    kanji

    Meaning

    Wall

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fall, Crash

    kanji

    Meaning

    Grave

    kanji

    Meaning

    Firm, Solid

    kanji

    Meaning

    Model, Type

    kanji

    Meaning

    Spit, Spew

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ditch, Moat

    kanji

    Meaning

    Wall, Fence

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hang down

    kanji

    Meaning

    Bury

    kanji

    Meaning

    Tower

    kanji

    Meaning

    Platform, Podium

    kanji

    Meaning

    Plaster, Paint

    kanji

    Meaning

    Tsubo, Two mat area

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fence, Hedge

    kanji

    Meaning

    Cultivate

    kanji

    Meaning

    Mound, Tomb

    kanji

    Meaning

    Lump

    kanji

    Meaning

    Embankment

    kanji

    Meaning

    Endure

    kanji

    Meaning

    Base, Small fort

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ink, Black ink

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fallen, Degenerate

    kanji

    Meaning

    Lot, Arable soil

    kanji

    Meaning

    Pit

    kanji

    Meaning

    Mound, Tumulus

    kanji

    Meaning

    Seize, Execute

    kanji

    Meaning

    Reclaim

    kanji

    Meaning

    Model

    kanji

    Meaning

    Cape

    kanji

    Meaning

    Block up

    kanji

    Meaning

    Piled high

    kanji

    Meaning

    Break

Kanji Related to Through the Part 丿

These 31 kanji contain the part 丿 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Eight

    kanji

    Meaning

    Nine

    kanji

    Meaning

    Thousand

    kanji

    Meaning

    Moon, Month

    kanji

    Meaning

    River

    kanji

    Meaning

    Person

    kanji

    Meaning

    Woman

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hand

    kanji

    Meaning

    Power

    kanji

    Meaning

    Enter

    kanji

    Meaning

    Red

    kanji

    Meaning

    White

    kanji

    Meaning

    Few

    kanji

    Meaning

    Younger brother

    kanji

    Meaning

    Self

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fur

    kanji

    Meaning

    Heart

    kanji

    Meaning

    Talent, Age

    kanji

    Meaning

    Sword

    kanji

    Meaning

    Turn

    kanji

    Meaning

    Body, Self

    kanji

    Meaning

    Facing, Yonder

    kanji

    Meaning

    Inevitable, Certain

    kanji

    Meaning

    Lose, Fault

    kanji

    Meaning

    Scanty, Scarce

    kanji

    Meaning

    Mediate, Jammed in

    kanji

    Meaning

    Blood

    kanji

    寿

    Meaning

    Longevity, Congratulations

    kanji

    Meaning

    Mean, Lowly

    kanji

    Meaning

    Vermillion

    kanji

    Meaning

    Feel ashamed

Learn the Kanji

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 先 mean?

先 means 'Before' and 'Previous'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in First Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N5 exam.

To help you master this kanji, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.