先 頭(せんとう)

せんとう

noun

head, lead, front

See also: 戦闘(せんとう) (combat, battle)

1. head, lead, front position

The foremost position in a line, group, or race; the front or leading position.

列(れつ)の先頭(せんとう)に並(なら)んだ。

I lined up at the front of the line.

彼(かれ)は先頭(せんとう)を走(はし)っている。

He is running in the lead.

先頭(せんとう)車両(しゃりょう)に乗(の)った。

I got on the front car (of the train).

先頭車両 = front car/lead car

先頭(せんとう) refers to being at the front or in the lead, whether physically in a line, in a race, or figuratively in leadership.

Common expressions

先頭(せんとう)に立(た)つ: to stand at the front, to lead
先頭(せんとう)を切(き)る: to take the lead, to be the first
先頭(せんとう)集団(しゅうだん): leading group (in a race)
先頭(せんとう)車両(しゃりょう): front car (of a train)
先頭(せんとう)打者(だしゃ): leadoff batter (baseball)

Similar words

最後尾(さいこうび): rear, end of line
後方(こうほう): behind, in the rear

Related Words

Compare: 最後尾(さいこうび) (rear, end of line)

Compare: 後方(こうほう) (behind, in the rear)

general

Added 2026.1.14 7:31 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02

04000/04374_sentou