before; prior to (に先立ち) – Japanese Grammar に先立ち (ni sakidachi)

Q: What JLPT level is に先立ち?

JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage

Q: How do you use に先立ち in a sentence?

Attach に先立ち to the appropriate verb or noun form. Before; prior to

Q: Is に先立ち formal or casual Japanese?

に先立ち is typically used in formal or written Japanese contexts.

に先立ち

N2 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

ni sakidachi

before; prior to

わずかに wazuka ni 一方で ippou de 次第で shidai de 中を /中では naka o /naka dewa 上 jou というものではない to iu mono dewa nai なお nao かえって kaette からすると kara suru to そう言えば sou ieba に過ぎない ni suginai ようではないか you dewa nai ka ものだ mono da というふうに to iu fuu ni はともかく wa tomokaku てはいられない tewa irarenai 少なくとも sukunaku tomo てまで te made にて nite からには kara niwa わずかに wazuka ni 一方で ippou de 次第で shidai de 中を /中では naka o /naka dewa 上 jou というものではない to iu mono dewa nai なお nao かえって kaette からすると kara suru to そう言えば sou ieba に過ぎない ni suginai ようではないか you dewa nai ka ものだ mono da というふうに to iu fuu ni はともかく wa tomokaku てはいられない tewa irarenai 少なくとも sukunaku tomo てまで te made にて nite からには kara niwa

🃏 Flashcard

に先立ち

ni sakidachi

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before; prior to

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N2

Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage

Reading ni sakidachi

Post ID 51095

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

before; prior to

📖 How to use it

Expresses 'prior to' a formal event or action, often used in announcements and written Japanese.

Attaches to Attach to the dictionary form of a verb or a noun directly. For verbs: V-dictionary + に先立ち. For nouns: N + に先立ち.

This pattern means 'before' or 'prior to' and is used to refer to a point in time before a significant event or action. It carries a formal, almost ceremonial tone and is common in speeches, business correspondence, and news reports. In conversation, you would typically use 前に or まえに instead.

Note that に先立ち is a form of the set phrase に先立って, and both are used interchangeably in meaning. When the preceding element is a noun, it directly connects without の, but if it's a verb, use the dictionary form. For example, 出発に先立ち (before departure) and 会議に先立ち (before the meeting).

This pattern often appears in contexts where some preliminary action is taken ahead of a main event, such as preparations or briefings. It emphasizes the sequence more formally than 前に.

式典に先立ち、黙祷が行われた。

Shikiten ni sakidachi, mokutō ga okonawareta.

Prior to the ceremony, a moment of silence was observed.

会議に先立ち、新しい資料を配布します。

Kaigi ni sakidachi, atarashii shiryō o haifu shimasu.

Before the meeting, I will distribute the new documents.

出発に先立ち、全員に注意事項を伝えた。

Shuppatsu ni sakidachi, zen'in ni chūi jikō o tsutaeta.

Prior to departure, I informed everyone of the precautions.

Not に先立ってに先立ち and に先立って are variants of the same set phrase; they are used interchangeably. There is no difference in meaning or formality.

Register Formal and primarily used in written language, public announcements, or formal speeches; in casual conversation, use 前に or まえに.

🎯 Quick Quiz

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に先立ち

📚 How to Master This Pattern

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Press Hear it and repeat に先立ち three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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Compose two original sentences using に先立ち. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

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on the occasion of; at the time of

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even if; regardless; whether... or

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern に先立ち mean? ▼

Before; prior to

What JLPT level is に先立ち? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N2 — Upper-Intermediate · Academic & formal usage. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use に先立ち in a sentence? ▼

Attach に先立ち (ni sakidachi) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.

Is に先立ち formal or casual Japanese? ▼

に先立ち is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.

How can I remember に先立ち long-term? ▼

Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.