先鋒
せんぽう · senpou (also spelled senpo)
Advance guard, vanguard
- athlete who competes in the first match of a team competition (kendo, judo, etc.)
Other ways to say “advance guard” in Japanese →
flat · what is pitch accent?
How it’s used
Used in formal or sports contexts to refer to the first competitor in team matches or the vanguard in battle; not common in everyday casual conversation.
Often confused with '先頭' (sentou), which means 'front' or 'lead' in general contexts, whereas '先鋒' specifically refers to the first player in team competitions or the lead unit in battle.
Example sentences
彼は先鋒として試合に出た。
He played in the match as the vanguard.
Nihoner
先鋒が勝てば、流れが来る。
If the vanguard wins, we get momentum.
Nihoner
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Questions
What does 先鋒 mean?
Advance guard, vanguard. It can also mean: athlete who competes in the first match of a team competition (kendo, judo, etc.).
How do you pronounce 先鋒?
せんぽう (senpou). Pitch accent: heiban — flat. Press Listen above to hear it.
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