“〜ni sakidatte・〜ni sakidachi”: Prior to 〜 (preparing beforehand) [JLPT N2]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「式典に先立ってリハーサルを行った」 — formal groundwork done ahead of a major event.

「開会に先立ち、黙祷を捧げます」 — what's done before an important event

Before a ceremony begins, the host says 「開会に先立ち、黙祷を捧げます」 (prior to opening, let us observe a moment of silence) — 「〜に先立って・〜に先立ち」 = prior to ～ (doing some preparation/rite first), used to solemnly express “before some important event, first do something.” It's a formal, written expression, mostly for preparations or procedures before ceremonies, formal events, major actions. This guide covers its formal use and how to tell it from the general 「〜前に.」

Core: before some important event, first do…

「〜に先立って／に先立ち」 means “before ～ (some important event/action), (first) do …”:

• 出発に先立って、荷物を点検する (before departure, first check the luggage).
• 開会に先立ち、来賓の挨拶があった (before the opening, there was a guest's address).

Feel: “prior to ～ (first …)” — the core is solemnly doing some preparation, procedure, or rite before an important event/activity. What precedes is mostly an important event (開会・出発・工事・発売・試合), and what follows is an advance preparation/address/procedure. It's more formal, solemn, written than the plain 「〜前に,」 with the sense of “(before a big matter,) first carefully do ….”

Forms & attachment

Examples in context

• 試合に先立って、両チームが挨拶を交わした。(Before the match, the two teams exchanged greetings.)
• 工事に先立ち、周辺住民への説明会を開いた。(Before construction, an info session for nearby residents was held.)
• 新商品の発売に先立って、記者会見が行われた。(Before the new product's launch, a press conference was held.)
• 手術に先立ち、患者に十分な説明を行う。(Before surgery, the patient is given a full explanation.)
• 総会の開催に先立つ準備は、着々と進んでいる。(Preparations prior to the general meeting are proceeding steadily.)

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① 「に先立って」 leans formal/written; everyday uses 「〜前に.」 「〜に先立って／に先立ち」 has a clear formal, solemn, written color, mostly for ceremonies, formal events, major actions, official documents, news — solemn settings — expressing “before some important event, first do a procedure/preparation.” For everyday “before ～,” just use the plain 「〜前に」: colloquial 「ご飯を食べる前に手を洗う (wash hands before eating)」 / written 「式典に先立ち、国歌を斉唱する (before the ceremony, sing the anthem).」 Using 「に先立って」 in casual chat sounds too grand, too stiff. Test: formal, written, ceremonies/major events → に先立って／に先立ち; everyday “before ～” → 〜前に.

② What precedes is mostly an ‘important event/action,' not a trivial matter. The first clause of 「に先立って」 is mostly an important, formal event or action — 開会・閉会・出発・試合・工事・発売・手術・実施・開催 (ceremonies, events, major actions). It expresses “before this important event, solemnly do some preparation/procedure first.” So what precedes is “a big matter worth solemn treatment,” not everyday trivia. For everyday small things (before eating, sleeping), 「に先立って」 doesn't fit (use 「〜前に」): ○ 開会に先立って (before the opening — an important event) / △ 寝るに先立って (before sleeping — trivial, unnatural, should be 「寝る前に」). Test: the preceding is an “important event/formal activity” for に先立って to apply.

③ What follows is an ‘advance preparation/procedure/rite,' not mere time sequence. The main clause of 「に先立って」 is mostly a preparation, procedure, address, or rite done deliberately before that important event — 点検 (inspection), 挨拶 (address), 説明会 (info session), リハーサル (rehearsal), 黙祷 (silent prayer), 記者会見 (press conference). It stresses “for that important event, first solemnly did ～ (a preparation/procedure),” with a sense of “solemn preparation, advance arrangement.” This differs from the plain time-sequence 「〜前に」 — 「に先立って」 adds the formal sense of “(for an important event) advance preparation.” So its main clause is usually something done to welcome/prepare for that big matter (not just any event happening before it). Test: to express “before an important event, first solemnly do (a preparation/procedure)” → に先立って.

🔄 Nuance & comparison: に先立って／前に／に先駆けて／てから

💡 Quick takeaway

「〜に先立って・に先立ち」 = prior to ～ (doing some preparation/procedure first), a formal, written expression — three points: ① leans formal/written — ceremonies, formal events, major actions, official documents use it; for everyday “before” just use 〈前に〉, don't force it in chat; ② precedes an ‘important event/action' — 開会・出発・工事・発売・手術, not trivia (before sleeping use 「寝る前に」, not に先立って); ③ followed by an ‘advance preparation/procedure/rite' — 点検・挨拶・説明会・黙祷, with the sense of “solemn preparation for an important event.” Comparing relatives: everyday “before” uses 前に, “ahead of/earlier than ～” uses に先駆けて, “do A first, then B” uses てから. This pattern suits the “before (a big matter), first do (a preparation)” of ceremonies and formal reporting — 開会に先立ち、〜, which sounds solemn and formal.

❓ Quick FAQ

Q: 「に先立って」 and 「〜前に」 both mean ‘before' — what's the difference?

The difference is register (formal/written vs general) and what's attached before and after. 「〜に先立って／に先立ち」 = prior to ～ (advance preparation/procedure, formal, solemn, written): mostly for ceremonies, formal events, major actions, official documents, news — solemn settings — with an important event before it (開会・出発・工事・発売・手術) and an advance preparation/procedure/rite done deliberately after (点検・挨拶・説明会・黙祷): 式典に先立ち、国歌斉唱があった (before the ceremony, the anthem was sung), 発売に先立って、試写会が開かれた (before the release, a preview was held). It carries the formal sense of “(for an important event) solemn preparation, advance arrangement.” 「〜前に」 = before (general, most common): usable in speech or writing, attaching to anything (not limited to important events), simply marking time sequence: ご飯を食べる前に手を洗う (wash hands before eating), 寝る前に歯を磨く (brush teeth before sleeping), 会議の前に資料を配る (hand out materials before the meeting). It's the most common everyday “before.” Test: formal settings, preparation/procedure before an important event → に先立って (with a sense of solemn preparation); everyday, plain time-sequence “before” → 〜前に (general). E.g. a ceremony address 「開会に先立ち、黙祷を捧げます (before the opening, let us observe silence)」 uses に先立って (formal, solemn); everyday 「出かける前にトイレに行く (go to the toilet before leaving)」 uses 前に (general). In short, に先立って is “solemn preparation before an important event in a formal setting,” 前に is the everyday general “before.”

Q: What can precede 「に先立って」? Can it take a verb?

It can take a noun (commonest) or a verb dictionary form, but what precedes is mostly an important event or action. ① Attaching a noun (important event) — commonest: 開会・閉会・出発・試合・工事・発売・開催・手術・実施・導入・面接, all formal, important events: 開会に先立って (before the opening), 出発に先立ち (before departure), 新制度の導入に先立って (before introducing a new system), 手術に先立ち (before surgery). This is the most typical use — “(important event) に先立って、(advance preparation).” ② Attaching a verb dictionary form: 実施するに先立って (before implementing), 開始するに先立ち (before starting), 契約を結ぶに先立って (before signing a contract). With a verb, use the dictionary form ＋ に先立って directly (for “before doing ～”). ③ Modifying a noun with 「に先立つ」: 開催に先立つ準備 (preparations prior to holding), 発売に先立つ発表会 (a presentation prior to release) — here use the attributive 「に先立つ ＋ noun.」 Note that what precedes is mostly an “important, formal event or action”; for everyday trivia (before eating, sleeping, bathing), 「に先立って」 is unnatural, too grand — use 「〜前に」 (寝る前に = before sleeping, not 「寝るに先立って」). So the test: the preceding is an important, formal event/action like “opening, departure, construction, release, surgery” → use に先立って; everyday trivia → use 〜前に. Master the two points “precedes an important event, formal register” and you'll use に先立って idiomatically.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「式典___、リハーサルを行った。」(a rehearsal was held before the ceremony)

(A) に先立って　(B) について　(C) によって　(D) にとって

Q2. In what situation does 「に先立って」 fit best?

(A) advance preparation for a formal, major event

(B) casual chat among friends

(C) acting spoiled

(D) apologizing

Q3. What does 「出発に先立ち、確認する」 mean?

(A) To check (first) before departure

(B) To check after departure

(C) To check while departing

(D) Not to check

Q4. What is the difference between 「に先立って」 and 「前に」?

(A) に先立って = advance to a formal, major event (written); 前に = general everyday use

(B) They are exactly the same

(C) に先立って = casual spoken language

(D) 前に = the most formal

Q5. Which usage is correct?

(A) 開会に先立って挨拶する。　(B) 開会を先立って。

(C) 開会に先立ってのに。　(D) 開会が先立つて。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) に先立って ── A rehearsal before the ceremony.

2. (A) ── Advance to a formal, major event.

3. (A) ── To check (first) before departure.

4. (A) ── に先立って formal/written; 前に general use.

5. (A) ── 「開会に先立って」 is correct.