〜に先立って|〜にさきだって
Means 'prior to' or 'in advance of' an event or action. It introduces something done or held beforehand, often as preparation for a significant or formal occasion.
Verb (dictionary form)The basic form of a verb, as listed in a dictionary (non-past, affirmative).
行く・食べる・する・来る
Narrower than the plain form, which also covers 行かない・行った・行かなかった.
Verb (dictionary form)The basic form of a verb, as listed in a dictionary (non-past, affirmative).
行く・食べる・する・来る
Narrower than the plain form, which also covers 行かない・行った・行かなかった.
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A formal expression common in news reports, announcements, speeches, business writing and formal instructions. It typically links an event, such as a match, a product launch or a ceremony, with an action taken beforehand, such as preparations, briefings or press conferences. It is more formal than 前に and stresses sequence in time, whereas にあたって and に際して focus on the occasion itself.
Note that in casual conversation about everyday matters, 前に sounds more natural; に先立って suits formal speech and writing, even for ordinary actions.
Note that the main clause should describe something done beforehand, usually a preparatory or preliminary step.
Learners sometimes confuse it with に先駆けて, which stresses coming early or ahead, not simply a preliminary step before an event.
- 1.に先立ちN2「に先立ち」is the continuative form of「に先立って」and has basically the same meaning and attachment, so the two are mostly interchangeable. It is more written and formal—common in news reports and official announcements, with「に先立ちまして」often heard in speeches—and it also frequently means "ahead of others," as in「他社に先立ち」.
- 2.に先駆けてN1「に先駆けて」can also mean doing something before an event starts, in which case it is often interchangeable with this pattern, but it carries a stronger nuance of "leading the charge"; when used in the sense of getting ahead of others, that nuance of being first is even more pronounced. It generally does not attach to the dictionary form of verbs.
- 3.にあたってN2「にあたって」means "on the occasion of" and can introduce either advance preparation or speeches and statements made on the spot at the event itself, whereas「に先立って」only indicates acting before the event begins. When talking about advance preparation the two are often interchangeable, but for on-the-spot statements「にあたって」is the appropriate choice.
- 4.に際してN2「に際して」points to the very moment the event arrives ("on the occasion of"), and what follows is typically a speech, an expression of thanks, or a procedure. 「に先立って」emphasizes preparing or acting in advance before the event starts, so the time point is earlier, and the two generally should not be swapped freely.
に先立ち has the same meaning and is slightly more formal and written, while に先駆けて means 'ahead of' others or an event but stresses coming early or taking the lead rather than a preparatory step. にあたって and に際して mean 'on the occasion of' and point to the time of the event itself rather than strictly before it.
