1.
postdating; advance dating
Writing a future date on a document, check, or other item, so that it becomes effective at that later date.
小切手を先付けで切った。
I wrote the check with a future date.
先付けの領収書は受け付けられない。
A postdated receipt will not be accepted.
先付けにすることで、支払い日を先に延ばすことができる。
By postdating, you can push the payment date further out.
2.
appetizer; first course (in kaiseki cuisine)
The opening dish served at the beginning of a kaiseki or traditional Japanese multi-course meal, typically a small, seasonal appetizer.
先付けは季節の食材を使った小鉢だった。
The appetizer was a small dish using seasonal ingredients.
懐石料理の先付けには旬の味が凝縮されている。
The appetizer course of kaiseki cuisine captures the essence of the season.
コースが始まり、まず先付けとして豆腐の上に梅ソースを添えた一品が出てきた。
The course began, and first, as an appetizer, a dish of tofu topped with plum sauce was served.
Two distinct meanings sharing the same word.
SENSE 1 (postdating): Formed from 先 (ahead/future) and 付ける (to attach/put). Refers to marking a document with a date in the future. Common in business and financial contexts.
SENSE 2 (kaiseki appetizer): In 懐石料理 (kaiseki cuisine), the 先付け is the opening course, served before everything else. It sets the tone and showcases the season's flavors. The name literally means "served first." This sense is also written as 先附け.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 先付けの小切手: postdated check
- 先付けの小鉢: appetizer small bowl
RELATED TERMS:
- 日付: date
- 懐石料理: kaiseki cuisine
- 前菜: appetizer; hors d'oeuvres (Western-style)
- 八寸: assorted appetizer plate (another kaiseki course)