Meaning and Usage
"先行" (せんこう) means "preceding" or "going first." It is often used to describe something that happens before others, such as preparations, research, or sales.
Common Contexts
You will frequently see "先行" in business, research, and marketing contexts where timing and order matter. For example, "先行研究" refers to prior research that informs current studies, and "先行販売" means advance sales before the official release.
Collocations and Patterns
- 先行研究 (せんこうけんきゅう): preceding research, used in academic or scientific contexts.
- 先行販売 (せんこうはんばい): advance sales, used in marketing.
- 先行して (せんこうして): doing something ahead of others, often used with verbs like 始める (to start).
Register and Nuance
"先行" is a neutral term suitable for formal and informal contexts. It is commonly used in written and spoken Japanese, especially in professional settings.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "先行" with "先行く" (to go ahead physically). Remember that "先行" is a noun or a noun used as an adverbial phrase, not a verb by itself. Use it with verbs like "する" or in compound nouns.