Meaning and Usage
"先着" (せんちゃく) means "first arrival" or "first-come, first-served." It is commonly used in contexts where limited offers, services, or entries are given to those who arrive earliest.
Common Contexts
You will often see "先着" in announcements for events, sales, or registrations where there is a limit on the number of participants or items. It implies urgency and encourages people to act quickly.
Collocations and Patterns
- 先着順 (せんちゃくじゅん): "in order of arrival"; used to specify that service or acceptance is based on who comes first.
- 先着100名 (せんちゃくひゃくめい): "first 100 people"; a common way to limit offers.
- 先着限定 (せんちゃくげんてい): "limited to first arrivals"; emphasizes exclusivity.
Register and Nuance
"先着" is neutral and formal enough for public announcements and advertisements. It is not casual conversation vocabulary but appears frequently in written notices.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "先着" with "先着者" (the person who arrives first) or with "先着順" (the order of arrival). Remember that "先着" itself focuses on the concept of arriving first or the first arrivals, often used as a modifier.