先立(さきだ)って

さきだって
adverb
prior to; before; the other day; recently
formaltime-general
1. prior to; before; in advance of
Used to indicate that something happens before or in preparation for another event. Often takes the form ～に先立って.
会議(かいぎ)に先立(さきだ)って資料(しりょう)を配(くば)る。
To hand out materials prior to the meeting.
開会(かいかい)に先立(さきだ)って、会長(かいちょう)から挨拶(あいさつ)があった。
Prior to the opening, there was a greeting from the chairman.
本番(ほんばん)に先立(さきだ)って、入念(にゅうねん)なリハーサルが行(おこな)われた。
A thorough rehearsal was conducted prior to the actual performance.
2. the other day; recently; a few days ago
Refers to something that happened in the recent past. A slightly formal alternative to この間.
先立(さきだ)ってお話(はなし)した件(けん)ですが。
Regarding the matter I mentioned the other day.
先立(さきだ)ってはお世話(せわ)になりました。
Thank you for your help the other day.
先立(さきだ)って届(とど)いた書類(しょるい)を確認(かくにん)しました。
I checked the documents that arrived the other day.

Has two distinct uses as an adverb. In sense 1, it functions as a formal conjunction meaning 'prior to' and typically appears as ～に先立(さきだ)って. In sense 2, it is a slightly formal way of saying 'the other day.'

Common patterns

  • ～に先立(さきだ)って: prior to ~; ahead of ~
  • 先立(さきだ)って + past event: the other day; recently

SIMILAR WORDS (sense 1):

  • ～の前(まえ)に: before ~ — everyday, less formal
  • ～に先駆(さきが)けて: ahead of; pioneering — implies being first/early
  • あらかじめ: in advance; beforehand

SIMILAR WORDS (sense 2):

Related Words

Compare: 予(あらかじ)め (in advance)
Compare: この間(あいだ) (the other day)
Compare: 先日(せんじつ) (the other day)
general
Added 2026.4.4 5:26 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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