に先駆けて
🃏 Flashcard
に先駆けて
ni sakigakete
Tap to reveal usage
prior to; being ahead of ~
N1
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N1
Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms
Reading
ni sakigakete
Post ID
51310
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
prior to; being ahead of ~
📖 How to use it
Describes an action or event that happens before another, often with a sense of being the first or leading the way.
Attaches to
Attach to a noun (often an event, time, or institution) directly: [noun] + に先駆けて.
に先駆けて means 'prior to' or 'ahead of', but it carries a nuance of being the pioneer or the first to do something, often in a positive or notable way. It is commonly used in news, formal writing, and announcements to highlight that something occurred before a major event or trend. For example, a company might launch a product に先駆けて the official release date, meaning they were ahead of schedule. The noun before に先駆けて is the reference point, typically a well-known event or a scheduled time. Note that this pattern is formal and sounds stiff in casual conversation; in daily speech, you would use 前に or 先に instead.
この技術は、国内の他社に先駆けて開発された。
Kono gijutsu wa, kokunai no tasha ni sakigakete kaihatsu sareta.
This technology was developed ahead of other domestic companies.
市は、国の制度に先駆けて、独自の子育て支援を始めた。
Shi wa, kuni no seido ni sakigakete, dokuji no kosodate shien o hajimeta.
The city started its own childcare support program ahead of the national system.
彼女は時代に先駆けて、環境問題の重要性を訴えていた。
Kanojo wa jidai ni sakigakete, kankyō mondai no jūyōsei o uttaete ita.
She was advocating the importance of environmental issues ahead of her time.
Not に先立って (ni sakidatte)
Both mean 'prior to', but に先駆けて emphasizes being the first or a pioneer, while に先立って is a neutral 'before' and is often used for procedural order. For example, 会議に先立って (sakidatte) means 'before the meeting', but 会議に先駆けて (sakigakete) would imply that something was done ahead of the meeting in a pioneering way.
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Formal and written; appropriate for news reports, business announcements, and academic texts, but not for casual conversation.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
に先駆けて
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat に先駆けて three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using に先駆けて. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N1 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern に先駆けて mean?
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Prior to; being ahead of ~
What JLPT level is に先駆けて?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use に先駆けて in a sentence?
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Attach に先駆けて (ni sakigakete) 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 に先駆けて formal or casual Japanese?
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に先駆けて 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 に先駆けて long-term?
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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.