connective N1 uncommon written
〜に先駆けて — ahead of ~
〜に先駆けて ・ にさきがけて
Meaning
- ahead of ~ / before anyone else / being the first to ~ — doing something earlier than all others, a pioneering lead
Key sentence
他社に先駆けて、新型の電池を発売した。
Ahead of other companies, they released a new type of battery.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun (the group / others you get ahead of) | N + に先駆けて（adnominal に先駆ける） | 世界に先駆けて / 他に先駆ける試み |
When: Written / news register — business, technology, notable achievements.
Examples
世界に先駆けて、その技術を実用化した。
They put the technology to practical use ahead of the rest of the world.
桜が他の花に先駆けて咲いた。
The cherry blossoms bloomed ahead of the other flowers.
When you can't use it
- The noun is the group or others you get ahead OF; it carries a 'first / pioneer' nuance, not mere chronological 'before.' For one's own preparatory steps, use に先立って.
Easily confused with
See 〜に先駆けて in real sentences
Jengo shows 〜に先駆けて the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled from published Japanese grammar references.