Before in Japanese
"before" in Japanese, with the kanji that carry the meaning.
4 Japanese kanji carry the meaning "before". The most common choice is shown first.
先View details →
Top pick
before, ahead, previous, future, precedence
Reading: sen
6 strokes
Where it comes from
Composed of '之' (advance) and '儿' (person). Going ahead of others.
What it carries
Leadership, priority, ancestors. Also represents respect for past wisdom.
Related kanji for "before"
前Details →曽Details →往Details →
before
zen
Composed of '止' (foot) and '舟' (boat). Standing at front of boat, advancing.
before
sou
Composed of eight and sun. Previously.
before
ou · wisdom, dynamic
Composed of go and master. Going along main road.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese kanji for before?
The most common kanji for "before" is 先, read as sen. It means before, ahead, previous. Related kanji: 前 (before), 曽 (before), 往 (before).
How many strokes does 先 have?
先 has 6 strokes.