| term | pronunciation | English |
|---|
| 先 | さき、せん | ahead, before, in future |
| 先ほど | さきほど | a little while ago |
| お先に失礼します | おさきにしつれいします | pardon me (for leaving) |
| 先ず | まず | first (of all), to start with, about, almost |
| 指先 | ゆびさき | fingertip |
| 先日 | せんじつ | the other day, a few days ago |
| 先月 | せんげつ | last month |
| 先々月 | せんせんげつ | month before last |
| 率先 | そっせん | taking the initiative |
| 先生 | せんせい | a teacher |
| 真っ先 | まっさき | the head, the foremost, beginning |
| 先祖 | せんぞ | ancestor |
| 祖先 | そせん | ancestor |
| 先程 | さきほど | some time ago |
| 先端 | せんたん | pointed end, tip, fine point |
| 率先垂範 | そっせんすいはん | set an example worth following |
| 先輩 | せんぱい | senior (at work or school), superior, elder |
| 先週 | せんしゅう | last week |
| 先頭 | せんとう | head, lead, vanguard, first |
| 一寸先 | いっすんさき | an inch ahead, the immediate future |
| 優先 | ゆうせん | preference, priority, precedence |
| 先に | さきに | before, earlier than, ahead, beyond, away, previously, recently |
| 先住 | せんじゅう | previous priest or resident |
| 先例に倣う | せんれいにならう | to follow precedent |
| 先哲 | せんてつ | ancient wise men |
| 先妻 | せんさい | former wife, late wife |
| 先導 | せんどう | guidance, leadership |
| 先秦 | せんしん | pre-Qin period (of Chinese history) |
| 先般 | せんぱん | some time ago, the other day |
| 先行 | せんこう | preceding, going first, leading, going ahead, taking priority |
| 先送り | さきおくり | postpone |
| 先進 | せんしん | seniority, advance, leadership |
| 先進国 | せんしんこく | advanced (developed) country, advanced nations |
| 先遣 | せんけん | sending ahead |
| 先鋭 | せんえい | radical, acute, sharp |
| 先駆 | せんく | forerunner; herald; outrider, pilot car |
| 先駆け | さきがけ | charging ahead of others, the first to charge, pioneer, forerunner, harbinger |
| 先駆ける | さきがける | to be the first |
| 刃先 | はさき | edge of blade |
| 嫁ぎ先 | とつぎさき | family a woman has married into |
| 帥先 | そっせん | taking the initiative |
| 庭先 | にわさき | in the garden |
| 旅先 | たびさき | destination, goal |
| 最先端 | さいせんたん | leading edge, forefront; ultra-fine |
| 玄関先 | げんかんさき | entrance, front door |
| 矛先 | ほこさき | point of spear; aim of attack, force of argument |
| 矢先 | やさき | arrowhead, brunt, target |
| 祖先崇拝 | そせんすうはい | ancestor worship |
| 穂先 | ほさき | ear (e.g. of wheat); tip (e.g. of brush or spear) |
| 衿先 | えりさき | collar points |
| 購入先 | こうにゅうさき | retailer |
| 軒先 | のきさき | edge of the eaves, house frontage |
| 鼻先 | はなさき | tip of nose |