先代|せんだいsendai[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounprevious generation (of a family); previous head of the family; one's (late) father
2. nounpredecessor
3. nounprevious age; previous generation

• Related前任ぜんにんNeutralRefers to the previous holder of a post, as in 「前任の部長」; used for handovers of a position. 「先代」 usually means the previous head of a family business or old shop.
• Related前任者ぜんにんしゃNeutralDenotes the predecessor as a person, as in 「前任者から引き継ぐ」; the focus is on the individual who held the post.
• Antonym当代とうだいNeutralRefers to the current head of the family, standing opposite 「先代」; it can also mean the present age or these days.
• Antonym次代じだいNeutralThe next generation or era, the opposite of 「先代」; seen in phrases like 「次代を担う若者」.

Use 「先代」 for the previous generation of a family business, old shop, or hereditary title, as in 「先代の社長」 and 「先代譲り」. For handovers of a post say 「前任」, and for the person 「前任者」. The opposites are 「当代」 and 「次代」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 今いまよりも前まえの時代じだい。
2. 現在げんざいの代だいの前まえの代だいや当主とうしゅ。