先
before, ahead, previous
- 丿sprout
- 土earth
- 儿legs
- kun
- さきsaki
- on
- センsen
mnemonic
A SPROUT (丿) from the EARTH (土) that grew LEGS (儿) and ran AHEAD of the other plants. Whatever goes first goes BEFORE, like your sensei who walked the road ahead of you. "Sen" (セン) as in sensei.
examples
- 先生せんせいsenseiteacher
- 先週せんしゅうsenshūlast week
- 先さきsakiahead, previous