先(さき)に

さきに
adverb
first; ahead; earlier; before
time-general
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(さき)に.
お先(さき)にどうぞ。
Please, after you.
先(さき)に帰(かえ)ります。
I'm heading home ahead of you.
彼(かれ)は先(さき)に会場(かいじょう)に着(つ)いて席(せき)を取(と)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(さき)にメールでお知(し)らせしました。
I let you know earlier by email.
先(さき)に話(はな)した件(けん)ですが、進展(しんてん)はありましたか。
About what I mentioned earlier — has there been any progress?
先(さき)にお伝(つた)えしたとおり、会議(かいぎ)は来週(らいしゅう)に延期(えんき)になりました。
As I mentioned earlier, the meeting has been postponed to next week.

Adverbial use of the noun 先(さき) (ahead; tip). Sense 1 is concrete (going first in time or place); sense 2 is the discourse use 'as I said earlier'.

Common expressions

  • お先(さき)に: 'Excuse me for going first' — standard set phrase when leaving early
  • お先(さき)に失礼(しつれい)します: polite version, used at work
  • 先(さき)に言(い)っておく: to mention upfront; to warn in advance
  • 先(さき)に話(はな)したとおり: as I mentioned earlier

Similar words

  • 前(まえ)に: before; previously — refers to an earlier point in time, but sounds less formal
  • 以前(いぜん): previously; formerly — formal written register
  • 早(はや)く: quickly; soon — about speed, not order of arrival

Related Words

Compare: 前(まえ)に (before)
Compare: 以前(いぜん) (previously)
Compare: 早(はや)く (quickly)
Compare: 前(まえ)もって (in advance, beforehand)
general
Added 2026.6.3 13:13 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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