先に・曩に|さきにsakini[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
先に先に is the most common and recommended form for beginners; use it when writing or typing this word, including when it means “previously,” “before,” “earlier,” or “formerly.”
曩に曩に is rarely used, so learners will seldom encounter this kanji-and-kana spelling; recognize it as an alternative form, but choose 先に instead when producing the word.
Definitions
- adverbpreviously; before; earlier; formerly; recently
- adverbfirst; before (something or someone else); ahead (of); earlier私が先にそこへ着くよ。↗I'll get there before you will.
- adverbbeforehand; in advance; ahead of time
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym以前いぜんNeutralRefers to the past in general (「以前住んでいた」) and is common in speech; 「先に」 can also mean going ahead of others, as in 「先に行く」.
- SynonymかねてNeutralMeans 'already; for quite a while' (「かねてからの夢」), stressing that something has been so since long ago.
- Synonym先立ってさきだってNeutralCovers 'prior to (an event)' and 'the other day' (「開会に先立って」).
- RelatedかつてWrittenMeans 'once; formerly' (「かつての名選手」); mostly written prose, and with a negative it means 'never'.
- Related前もってまえもってNeutralMeans 'in advance; beforehand' (「前もって連絡する」), stressing preparation made ahead of time.
- RelatedあらかじめWrittenMeans 'beforehand; in advance' (「あらかじめご了承ください」); on the formal side.
- AntonymのちにNeutralMeans 'later on' (「後に有名になる」); the opposite of 「先に」.
- Antonym後であとでNeutralMeans 'afterwards; later' (「後で電話する」); the opposite of 「先に」.
Use 「先に」 for going before others or for something earlier (「お先に失礼します」「先に述べた通り」). For the past in general say 「以前」, for in advance 「前もって」 or 「あらかじめ」, for once/formerly 「かつて」. The opposites are 「後で」 and 「後に」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
