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 ★★★★★
(earlier/ the tip) + (life / birth) = 先生 (teacher)

先月(せんげつ)

last month ★★★★★
(earlier/ the tip) + (moon) = 先月 (last month)

先週(せんしゅう)

last week ★★★★★
(earlier/ the tip) + (week) = 先週 (last week)

先年(せんねん)

not last year. ☆☆☆☆☆
(earlier/ the tip) + (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
earlier/ the tip LEGS OPEN
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

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