先駆的(せんくてき)

Compound of 先駆(せんく) ('pioneer; forerunner', literally 'riding ahead') and the adjectival suffix 〜的(てき) ('-ical'). Written-language feel; common in formal writing, reviews, and obituaries.

Usage

• Used as a な-adjective: 先駆的(せんくてき)な試(こころ)み ('a pioneering attempt').
• Often combined with 存在(そんざい) ('figure; presence'), 役割(やくわり) ('role'), 業績(ぎょうせき) ('achievements'), 作品(さくひん) ('work').
• The related noun 先駆者(せんくしゃ) ('pioneer; trailblazer') is used for people.
• Adverbial use 先駆的(せんくてき)に is less common than with many 〜的(てき) adjectives; prefer 先駆(せんく)けて ('ahead of') for the adverbial idea.

Common collocations

• 先駆的(せんくてき)な研究(けんきゅう): pioneering research
• 先駆的(せんくてき)な役割(やくわり)を果(は)たす: to play a pioneering role
• 先駆的(せんくてき)な試(こころ)み: pioneering attempt
• 先駆的(せんくてき)な存在(そんざい): a pioneering figure
• 先駆的(せんくてき)な業績(ぎょうせき): pioneering achievements

Similar words

• 画期的(かっきてき): epoch-making; revolutionary — stresses a decisive break with the past rather than being the first.
• 革新的(かくしんてき): innovative — emphasizes novelty of method or technology.
• 先進的(せんしんてき): advanced; progressive — emphasizes being at the forefront of development rather than being first.
• 独創的(どくそうてき): original; creative — emphasizes uniqueness of ideas, not necessarily being first.