先(さき)

さき
noun
ahead, future, previous, tip
time-generaldirection
1. ahead, in front
A location further along in space.
この道(みち)の先(さき)に駅(えき)があります。
There is a station ahead on this road.
もう少(すこ)し先(さき)まで歩(ある)きましょう。
Let's walk a little further ahead.
先(さき)が見(み)えません。
I can't see what's ahead. / I can't see the future.
Ambiguous: sense 1 or 2
角(かど)を曲(ま)がった先(さき)にコンビニがあります。
There's a convenience store just past the corner.
ずっと先(さき)の山(やま)が見(み)えます。
I can see mountains far ahead.
この道(みち)をまっすぐ行(い)くと、先(さき)に公園(こうえん)があります。
If you go straight on this road, there's a park ahead.
2. future
Time that has not yet come.
先(さき)のことはわかりません。
I don't know what will happen in the future.
先(さき)が見(み)えません。
I can't see what's ahead. / I can't see the future.
Ambiguous: sense 1 or 2
先(さき)のことを考(かんが)えないようにしています。
I try not to think about the future.
この先(さき)どうなるか分(わ)かりません。
I don't know what will happen from now on.
先(さき)のことを心配(しんぱい)しすぎると、今(いま)を楽(たの)しめません。
If you worry too much about the future, you can't enjoy the present.
3. previous, earlier
Something that happened before.
先(さき)に行(い)ってください。
Please go ahead first.
先(さき)ほどお電話(でんわ)しました。
I called earlier.
お先(さき)に失礼(しつれい)します。
Excuse me for leaving first.
先(さき)に食(た)べていてください。
Please eat first (before me).
先(さき)の会議(かいぎ)で話(はな)したことを覚(おぼ)えていますか。
Do you remember what we discussed at the previous meeting?
4. tip, end
The pointed or far end of something.
指(ゆび)の先(さき)が冷(つめ)たいです。
My fingertips are cold.
鉛筆(えんぴつ)の先(さき)が折(お)れました。
The tip of my pencil broke.
傘(かさ)の先(さき)で人(ひと)をつつかないでください。
Please don't poke people with the tip of your umbrella.
靴(くつ)の先(さき)が汚(よご)れています。
The toes of my shoes are dirty.
針(はり)の先(さき)に気(き)をつけてください。
Please be careful of the needle tip.

先(さき) is a highly versatile noun with spatial, temporal, and physical meanings.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS (ahead):

COMMON COLLOCATIONS (time):

  • 先(さき)のこと: what will happen / future matters
  • 先(さき)に: first, beforehand (doing something before others)
  • 先(さき)ほど: a short while ago (polite)

COMMON COLLOCATIONS (tip):

Common expressions

Compounds

Related Words

Related: 先(さき)ほど (a short while ago (polite))
Related: 指先(ゆびさき) (fingertip)
Compare: 後(あと) (after, later (先に vs 後で))
Compare: 端(はし)っこ (edge)
basic
Added 2026.1.11 18:35 · Revised 2026.10.10 4:20
02500/02883_saki