Meaning and Usage
"優先" (ゆうせん) means "priority" or "preference" and is used to indicate that something should be treated before others or given special importance. It is a noun but often appears in phrases like "優先する" (to prioritize).
Common Contexts
It is frequently used in business, safety instructions, and daily life when deciding what should come first. For example, "優先して対応する" means to respond with priority.
Collocations and Patterns
- 優先する: to prioritize
- 優先的に: in a prioritized manner
- 優先順位: order of priority
- 安全を優先する: to prioritize safety
Register and Nuance
"優先" is a formal word often used in written and polite spoken Japanese. It conveys a clear sense of importance and order.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "優先" with "先に" (beforehand) or "先行" (preceding). Remember "優先" focuses on importance or preference, not just temporal order.