What does 先 mean in Japanese?
先 means “ahead, previous, before” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 先 (ahead; before), 先生 (teacher), and 先週 (last week).
For learners, the key is to study 先 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: セン (sen)
Kun’yomi: さき (saki), ま-ず (ma-zu)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 先 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | ahead, previous, tip |
| Stroke Count | 6 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
How to Understand This Kanji
先 is not limited to one English translation. In 先 (さき), it means ahead; before; in 先生 (せんせい), it points to teacher; and in 先週 (せんしゅう), it is used for last week. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 先（さき / saki） — ahead; before
- 先生（せんせい / sensei） — teacher
- 先週（せんしゅう / senshū） — last week
- 先月（せんげつ / sengetsu） — last month
- 先に（さきに / sakini） — first; before
- 先頭（せんとう / sentō） — front; lead
Example Sentences
-
この先に駅があります。
このさきにえきがあります。 / Kono saki ni eki ga arimasu.
There is a station ahead.
-
先生に質問しました。
せんせいにしつもんしました。 / Sensei ni shitsumon shimashita.
I asked the teacher a question.
-
先週は雨が多かったです。
せんしゅうはあめがおおかったです。 / Senshū wa ame ga ōkatta desu.
It rained a lot last week.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 先 (さき / saki) because it keeps the core meaning of 先 clear. Then add 先生 and 先週 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 先 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
先 means “ahead, previous, before” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 先, 先生, and 先週.