What is the Kanji for "Before" and "Previous"?

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".

This kanji has 2 readings:

Its kunyomi reading is "Saki".

Its onyomi reading is "Sen".

kunyomi readings are based on the pronunciation of native Japanese words, and onyomi readings are based on the Chinese pronunciation of the character.

If you visually breakdown this kanji, you can see is made up of 3 parts:

The radical "儿" means "Legs" . The kanji "土" means "Soil" and can be read as "Tsuchi", "To", and "Do". And The radical "丿" means "Katakana no" .

Now, let's make sure you understand this kanji the other way around too.

What does the kanji "先" mean in japanese?

"先" means "Before" and "Previous".

Japanese School Students learn this kanji in First Grade, while foreigners may learn this kanji in preparation for the JLPT N5 exam.

Here are some words that use this kanji:

先: "Front" or "Future". The Japanese noun '先 (さき)' can refer to the 'front' or 'ahead' of something, such as the front part of an object or the direction one is facing. It can also mean 'the future', as in 'the time to come'. For example: Stand in the front - (先に立つ). The future is bright - (先は明るい).

先生: "Teacher". The Japanese noun '先生 (せんせい)' means 'teacher'. This word is used to refer to someone who is an educator, instructor or mentor. It is a respectful term that conveys the high regard Japanese society places on the teaching profession. For example: My teacher is very kind - (先生はとてもやさしい). The teacher explained the lesson - (先生が授業を説明しました).

先ず: "First" or "Initially". The adverb '先ず (まず)' means 'first' or 'initially'. It is used to indicate that an action or event is the first in a sequence or series. It can also be used to express that something happens before or as a first step to other things. For example: First, let's have dinner - (先ず夕食をしましょう). I will initially focus on the basics - (先ず基礎から始めます).

先月: "Last month". The Japanese noun '先月 (せんげつ)' refers to the month immediately preceding the current month. It is used to indicate a specific time period in the past, usually the month before the current one. For example: I went on vacation last month - (先月、私は休暇に行きました). The weather was nice last month - (先月の天気は良かったです).

先週: "Last week". The noun '先週 (せんしゅう)' means 'last week'. It is used to refer to the week that immediately precedes the current week. For example: I went on vacation last week - (私は先週休暇に行きました). My birthday was last week - (私の誕生日は先週でした).

先程: "A short while ago". The noun '先程 (さきほど)' refers to 'a short while ago', indicating an event or action that occurred recently in the past. This word is commonly used to talk about something that just happened or was done. For example: I just saw him a short while ago - (先程彼に会った). I left home a short while ago - (先程家を出た).

先に: "First" or "Ahead". The adverb '先に (さきに)' means 'first' or 'ahead'. It is used to indicate that an action or event will occur before something else. For example: I'll go ahead - (私が先に行きます). Please go first - (先に行ってください).

先輩: "Senior". The Japanese noun '先輩 (せんぱい)' refers to a senior or more experienced person, often in an academic or workplace setting. It is used to address or refer to someone who is of a higher rank, has more experience, or is older than oneself. For example: My senior in the department gave me some advice - (部署の先輩が私にアドバイスをくれた). I respect my seniors - (先輩を尊敬しています).

優先: "Priority". The Japanese noun '優先 (ゆうせん)' means 'priority'. This word refers to something that is more important, urgent or deserving attention over other things. It indicates that something should come before or take precedence over other matters. For example: Her work has priority over her personal life - (彼女の仕事は個人生活より優先される). The teacher gave priority to grading the exams - (先生は試験採点を優先した).

先日: "Recent days". The noun '先日 (せんじつ)' means 'recent days' or 'the other day'. It refers to a period of time just before the current moment, usually within the last few days or very recently. For example: I saw him the other day - (先日、彼に会いました). It was just the other day that I visited the museum - (先日、私は美術館に行きました).

最先端: "Cutting-edge". The Japanese noun '最先端 (さいせんたん)' refers to the most advanced, innovative or modern state of something. It is used to describe technology, ideas, or methods that are at the forefront of their field. For example: The latest smartphone models feature cutting-edge technology - (最新のスマートフォンは最先端の技術を備えている). This company is known for its cutting-edge research and development - (この会社は最先端の研究開発で知られている).

宛先: "Address". The Japanese noun '宛先 (あてさき)' refers to the destination or recipient of a letter, package, or other item being sent. It indicates where the item is being delivered to. This word is commonly used when addressing envelopes, packages, or other mail items. For example: The address on the letter is incorrect - (手紙の宛先が間違っている). Please write the address clearly - (宛先をはっきりと書いてください).

先端: "Tip". The Japanese noun '先端 (せんたん)' means 'tip'. It refers to the pointed or protruding end of an object, such as the tip of a pencil, the tip of a knife, or the tip of a mountain. This word is commonly used to describe the extremity or the most forward part of an item. For example: The tip of the pen was broken - (ペンの先端が壊れた). The sharpest tip of the knife - (ナイフの一番先端の部分)

先進: "Advanced". The noun '先進 (せんしん)' means 'advanced'. This word refers to something that is highly developed, innovative, or at the forefront of its field. It can be used to describe technology, society, or any other area that is progressing rapidly. For example: The country has made great advances in medical technology - (その国は医療技術で先進的な進歩をしてきた). Our company is at the forefront of the industry - (うちの会社は業界の先進的存在だ).

先祖: "Ancestors". The Japanese noun '先祖 (せんぞ)' refers to one's ancestors or forefathers. It is used to describe the lineage or family tree from which a person is descended. It commonly appears in discussions about family heritage, traditions, and genealogy. For example: We must respect our ancestors - (先祖を敬わなければなりません). My ancestors were from Kyoto - (私の先祖は京都出身でした).

先行: "Precedence" or "Priority". The noun '先行 (せんこう)' means 'precedence' or 'priority'. It refers to the state of being first in order, rank, or importance. This word is used to indicate that something has preference or takes precedence over other things. For example: He gave his work precedence over his personal life - (彼は仕事を私生活に先行させた). The company always gives their top clients priority - (その会社はいつも最優先の顧客に先行して対応する).

先頭: "Front". The Japanese noun '先頭 (せんとう)' means 'front'. It refers to the leading position or the forefront of something. This word is commonly used to describe the front of a group, line, or formation. For example: The runner in the front of the race is in the lead - (レースの先頭ランナーがリードしている). The front car in the line - (列の先頭の車)

真っ先: "First". The noun '真っ先 (まっさき)' means 'first'. It is used to refer to being the first or earliest to do or experience something. It can indicate priority or precedence. For example: I was the first one there - (私は真っ先にそこにいた). She was the first to cross the finish line - (彼女は真っ先にゴールラインを通過した).

指先: "Fingertip". The noun '指先 (ゆびさき)' refers to the tips of the fingers. It is used to describe the small, sensitive area at the end of the fingers. This word is commonly used when discussing dexterity, fine motor skills, or the sense of touch. For example: She has a green thumb and can care for plants with her gentle fingertips - (彼女は緑の親指があり、指先を優しく使ってplants世話ができる).

勤め先: "Workplace". The Japanese noun '勤め先 (つとめさき)' refers to one's workplace or place of employment. It is commonly used to indicate the location where someone is employed or the company or organization that they work for. For example: My workplace is in downtown - (私の勤め先は downtown にあります). She works at the local bank - (彼女の勤め先は地元の銀行です).

祖先: "Ancestor". The Japanese noun '祖先 (そせん)' means 'ancestor'. It refers to a person from whom one is descended, typically more remote than a grandparent. This word is commonly used when discussing one's family lineage and heritage. For example: My ancestors were farmers - (私の祖先は農家でした). We respect our ancestors - (私たちは祖先を敬っています).

To make really sure you learn this Kanji, I've prepared an interactive lesson for you. You are going to learn the readings and meanings of this kanji.

But first, you need to know a little bit about Hiragana and Katakana.

Hiragana and katakana are japanese syllabaries, this means that each character represents a syllable.

This are the characters you need to know for this lesson:

The hiragana "さ" is read as "sa". The hiragana "き" is read as "ki". The hiragana "せ" is read as "se". And The hiragana "ん" is read as "n".

Heres a quick tutorial on how to use it. You'll be asked three type of questions: meaning, reading, and writing.

For meanings questions all you have to do is type the english meaning. If there is more than one meaning, you have to include them all in your answer separating them by commas (,).

For Reading questions you have to type the reading in romaji (roman letters, our normal alphabet) and it'll be automatically converted to hiragana if necessary. If there is more than one reading, you have to include them all in your answer separating them by commas (,).

For Writing questions some options will appear and all you have to do is select the correct ones.