空前(くうぜん)

くうぜん
noun
unprecedented; unheard-of; record-breaking
1. unprecedented; unheard-of; never before seen
Something that has never happened or existed before. Literally means 'empty before' — nothing like it has come before. Often used with の as a modifier.
空前(くうぜん)の大(だい)ヒットだ。
It's an unprecedented mega-hit.
空前(くうぜん)の規模(きぼ)で開催(かいさい)された。
It was held on an unprecedented scale.
このアニメは空前(くうぜん)絶後(ぜつご)の人気(にんき)を誇(ほこ)り、世界中(せかいじゅう)でファンが増(ふ)え続(つづ)けている。
This anime boasts unprecedented popularity, with fans continuing to grow worldwide.

Composed of 空(くう) (empty/void) + 前(ぜん) (before) — literally "nothing before it." Very commonly paired with 絶後(ぜつご) (nothing after) to form the four-character idiom 空前(くうぜん)絶後(ぜつご) (literally "nothing before, nothing after"), meaning completely unprecedented and unrepeatable.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 空前(くうぜん)の大(だい)ヒット: unprecedented mega-hit
  • 空前(くうぜん)の規模(きぼ): unprecedented scale
  • 空前(くうぜん)のブーム: unprecedented boom/craze
  • 空前(くうぜん)絶後(ぜつご): unprecedented and unrepeatable
  • 空前(くうぜん)の売(う)り上(あ)げ: record-breaking sales

USAGE:
Typically used as a の-modifier before nouns (空前(くうぜん)の〜). Has a positive or neutral connotation, often describing achievements, popularity, or scale rather than disasters.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 前代未聞(ぜんだいみもん): unprecedented — tends toward negative or shocking events
  • 未曾有(みぞう): unprecedented — often used for disasters or crises
  • 史上(しじょう)初(はつ): first in history — more factual/objective
general
Added 2026.4.6 3:27
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