先

before, ahead

JLPT N5 Grade 1 6 strokes

Kun'yomi: さき
On'yomi: セン

先 means "before, ahead". It is a JLPT N5 kanji written in 6 strokes. It is read さき in native Japanese words (kun'yomi) and セン in compounds (on'yomi). Japanese schoolchildren learn it in grade 1.

Example word

先生せんせい

teacher

先 in example sentences

先生せんせいなの？

Sensei na no?

Are you a teacher?
お先さきにどうぞ。

O saki ni douzo.

After you.
先さきにやってよ。

Saki ni yatte yo.

You go first.

Example sentences from the Tatoeba Project, licensed CC-BY 2.0 FR.

Stroke order & writing

Want more? Practice writing from memory. Stroke-order and animation sources are on our credits page.

Words that use 先

Common questions

What does the kanji 先 mean?: 先 means "before, ahead". It is a JLPT N5 kanji.
How many strokes does 先 have?: 先 is written in 6 strokes.
How is 先 read?: It is read さき in native Japanese words (kun'yomi) and セン in compounds (on'yomi).
What JLPT level is 先?: 先 is a JLPT N5 kanji.

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