1.
first; ahead; before someone else
Doing or being something ahead of others, either in order of action or in arrival. The standard polite phrase when leaving the office early is お先に.
お先にどうぞ。
Please, after you.
先に帰ります。
I'm heading home ahead of you.
彼は先に会場に着いて席を取っておいてくれた。
He arrived at the venue ahead of us and saved seats.
2.
earlier; previously; the other day
Referring back to a recent earlier time. Often replaces this morning, yesterday, or last week when the exact time is irrelevant.
先にメールでお知らせしました。
I let you know earlier by email.
先に話した件ですが、進展はありましたか。
About what I mentioned earlier — has there been any progress?
先にお伝えしたとおり、会議は来週に延期になりました。
As I mentioned earlier, the meeting has been postponed to next week.
Adverbial use of the noun 先 (ahead; tip). Sense 1 is concrete (going first in time or place); sense 2 is the discourse use 'as I said earlier'.
FIXED EXPRESSIONS:
- お先に: 'Excuse me for going first' — standard set phrase when leaving early
- お先に失礼します: polite version, used at work
- 先に言っておく: to mention upfront; to warn in advance
- 先に話したとおり: as I mentioned earlier
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 前に: before; previously — refers to an earlier point in time, but sounds less formal
- 以前: previously; formerly — formal written register
- 早く: quickly; soon — about speed, not order of arrival