先 手(せんて)を打(う)つ

せんてをうつ

expression

to make the first move; to take the initiative

1. to make the first move; to take the initiative; to act preemptively

To take action before the other party does, gaining a strategic advantage. Originally from shogi/go terminology where 先手 is the player who moves first.

先手(せんて)を打(う)って交渉(こうしょう)を始(はじ)めた。

I took the initiative and started negotiations.

競合(きょうごう)より先手(せんて)を打(う)って新商品(しんしょうひん)を発表(はっぴょう)した。

We got ahead of our competitors by announcing the new product first.

問題(もんだい)が大(おお)きくなる前(まえ)に先手(せんて)を打(う)って対策(たいさく)を講(こう)じるべきだ。

We should take preemptive action and implement countermeasures before the problem grows.

Etymology

From board game terminology. In shogi and go, 先手(せんて) refers to the player who moves first, which is considered an advantage. 先手(せんて)を打(う)つ means to secure that first-mover advantage.

Similar words

先手(せんて)を打(う)つ vs. 後手(ごて)に回(まわ)る: Opposite expressions. 先手(せんて)を打(う)つ is proactive; 後手(ごて)に回(まわ)る is reactive and disadvantageous.
先(さき)を越(こ)す: To get ahead of someone — focuses on outpacing rather than strategic positioning.
先制(せんせい)する: To strike first, to preempt — more aggressive, often used in military or sports contexts.

Common collocations

先手(せんて)を打(う)って対応(たいおう)する (to respond proactively)
先手(せんて)を打(う)って動(うご)く (to act preemptively)

Related Words

Antonym: 後手(ごて)に回(まわ)る (fall behind)

Synonym: 先(さき)を越(こ)す (get ahead of)

Compare: 出(だ)し抜(ぬ)く (to outsmart)

Compare: 先回(さきまわ)り (going ahead)

general

Added 2026.3.21 19:59 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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