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先
先 (readings: せん, さき; Japanese kanji) means “ahead / previous”. It is a Grade 1 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 1 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 先生 (teacher).
What does 先 mean?
| Kanji | 先 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | ahead / previous |
| Readings | せん, さき |
| Grade | Grade 1 (Easiest) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 先
先 is read せん or さき depending on the word.
Example words with 先
| Example | 先生 (teacher) |
|---|
Practice writing 先 — free
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Updated: 2026-07-14