先 — JLPT N5 Kanji
先 (sen/saki): before. JLPT N5 kanji.
Character Info
| Kanji | Strokes | JLPT | Radical | Radical Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 先 | 6 | N5 | 儿 | human legs |
Readings
| Type | Reading | Romaji | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| On (音) | セン | sen | Chinese-origin (音読み) |
| Kun (訓) | さき | saki | ahead; first; tip |
Meanings
- before
- ahead
- first
- previous
Vocabulary
| Word | Reading | Romaji | English | JLPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 先生 | せんせい | sensei | teacher | N5 |
| 先週 | せんしゅう | senshuu | last week | N5 |
| 先月 | せんげつ | sengetsu | last month | N5 |
| 先輩 | せんぱい | senpai | senior / upperclassman | N4 |
| 先頭 | せんとう | sentou | head / front | N4 |
Stroke Order
Top: 土 or ⼟-like component (3 strokes). Bottom: 儿 (human legs, 2 strokes). Then 先 additional.
Mnemonic
A person (儿) going ahead — the first to walk forward.
Common Mistakes
先 (first/before) vs 失 (lose) — 先 has 儿 at the bottom; 失 has a different structure.