# 先 earlier/ the tip

(hurl) + (pi)
★★★★★
6 strokes
JERK

## Onyomi

SEN |

## Mnemonic

| We heard the other guys were going to pie him at noon, so we SENT him to hurl the pie at them, earlier!! Machiavelli, eat your heart out.

## Kunyomi

さき | the tip (of a spear, etc.) ★★★☆☆
さき ( にｘｘｘ ) | this expression sucks. It means 'just a little while earlier in time,' but it ALSO means, 'just a little farther along in space.' Sorry. If you're on an elevator and want to say, "You go ahead and get off first, please," You'd say お先にどぞ。 Sheesh. JERK ★★★★★

## Jukugo

先生(せんせい) | teacher ★★★★★ 先 (earlier/ the tip) + 生 (life / birth) = 先生 (teacher)
先月(せんげつ) | last month ★★★★★ 先 (earlier/ the tip) + 月 (moon) = 先月 (last month)
先週(せんしゅう) | last week ★★★★★ 先 (earlier/ the tip) + 週 (week) = 先週 (last week)
先年(せんねん) | not last year. ☆☆☆☆☆ 先 (earlier/ the tip) + 年 (year) = 先年 (not last year.) last year. PSYCHE。 you didn't think it would be that logical? last year is 去年：きょねん.

## Lookalikes

| Meaning | Hint | Radical
--- | --- | --- | ---
先 | earlier/ the tip | LEGS OPEN |
失 | miss out on | LEGS CLOSED |

1) Probably the first time you saw "先" , you were looking at the word for teacher (sensei)-- 先生

2) MISS is basically SENSEI but with its legs closer together. Therefore,

3) I missed out on sex with teacher because she kept her LEGS CLOSED.

See?

## Used In

- 洗

## Synonyms

ancestor 先祖 祖先
assumption 期待 予想 前提 先入観
border, edge 国境 境 境界 縁 端 末 先 外れ 際
doctor/teacher 医者 医師 先生 教師
go too far, jump the gun, press your luck 先走り 席を越す 調子に乗る あんまり
judge someone 偏見 判断 先入観 判決 裁く 審査