先 means “ahead”

さき · saki

Also: before, previous, future

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

さき, まず

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

セン

JLPT N5 · Taught in grade 1 · 6 strokes

The story

A person walking forward, feet stepping beyond the present, always moving toward what comes next.

Means "before" or "tip"; used in 先生 (sensei, teacher, literally "born before")

Words with 先

• 先生 (せんせい, sensei): teacher

More from Seasons & Time

• 夜 night
• 長 long
• 明 bright
• 春 spring
• 秋 autumn
• 昼 noon
• 夏 summer
• 時 time
• 週 week
• 朝 morning
• 新 new
• 暗 dark

Learn 先 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.