JLPT N5 · 6 strokes
Kanji 先: "before, ahead, previous"
The kanji 先 means "before, ahead, previous, future, precedence". It is written with 6 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N5, read セン in on'yomi and さき, ま.ず in kun'yomi.
Stroke order
Strokes are written in the order of the numbers. The order is not decorative: it is what gives the character its balance, and it is also how handwriting search works in Japanese dictionaries.
Readings
On'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading)
セン
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
さきま.ず
In a kun'yomi reading, the dot separates the kanji from its okurigana: かた.る is read かたる and written 語る. A hyphen marks a bound position, like -び in 日.
At a glance
| Meaning | before, ahead, previous, future, precedence |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 6 |
| JLPT level | N5 |
| Taught in Japan | grade 1 |
| Frequency rank | 173 of 2,501 |
Common words with 先
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 先point; tip; end; nozzle · head (of a line); front
- 先にpreviously; before; earlier; formerly · first; before (something or someone else); ahead (of); earlier
- 先ずfirst (of all); firstly; to begin with; before anything else · probably; most likely; almost certainly; virtually
- 先生teacher; instructor; master · sensei; title or form of address for a teacher, master, doctor, lawyer, etc.
- 先a short while ago; a moment ago; just now; some time ago
- 先ずはpour commencer, avant tout · très probablement, presque sûrement
- 先輩senior (at school, work, etc.); superior; elder; older person
- 先ほどa short while ago; a moment ago; just now; some time ago
- 先日the other day; a few days ago
- この先au-delà d'ici, plus loin · désormais, à partir de maintenant
- 優先preference; priority; precedence; right of way
- その先au-delà, plus loin, après ça
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