先端(せんたん)

せんたん
noun
tip, point; cutting edge
1. tip, point, end
The pointed or outermost end of something.
鉛筆(えんぴつ)の先端(せんたん)が折(お)れた。
The tip of the pencil broke.
枝(えだ)の先端(せんたん)に花(はな)が咲(さ)いている。
Flowers are blooming at the tip of the branch.
針(はり)の先端(せんたん)はとても細(ほそ)い。
The tip of a needle is very thin.
2. cutting edge, forefront, leading edge
The most advanced or modern point of development in a field.
先端(せんたん)技術(ぎじゅつ)を使(つか)った製品(せいひん)だ。
It's a product that uses cutting-edge technology.
先端技術 = advanced/cutting-edge technology
あの研究所(けんきゅうじょ)は医療(いりょう)の最(もっと)も先端(せんたん)を行(い)っている。
That research institute is at the very forefront of medicine.
先端を行く = to be at the cutting edge
この大学(だいがく)は先端(せんたん)科学(かがく)の研究(けんきゅう)で知(し)られている。
This university is known for its research in frontier science.

先端(せんたん) has both physical (tip/point) and figurative (cutting edge) meanings.

PHYSICAL MEANING:

  • The pointed end of objects (pencils, needles, branches)
  • The outermost part of something

FIGURATIVE MEANING:

  • 先端(せんたん)技術(ぎじゅつ): cutting-edge technology
  • 最(さい)先端(せんたん): the very forefront
  • 先端(せんたん)を行(い)く: to be at the cutting edge

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • 先端(せんたん)技術(ぎじゅつ): advanced technology
  • 先端(せんたん)科学(かがく): frontier science
  • 先端(せんたん)産業(さんぎょう): high-tech industry
  • 最(さい)先端(せんたん): state-of-the-art, cutting edge
general
Added 2026.1.14 7:31 · Revised 2026.3.4 12:34
04000/04370_sentan