“saki ni / o-saki ni” Meaning & Usage — First / Ahead / In Advance [JLPT N3]

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

Going ahead in time or space, plus the workplace phrase お先に失礼します — usage and examples. (JLPT N3)

「お先に失礼します」 — 「先に・お先に」, first, ahead, in front

Leaving work, you say to colleagues 「お先に失礼します」 (I'll head out first / excuse me for leaving ahead) — 「先に (さきに)」 means “before others, ahead, in front,” covering time order (you go first, I do it first) and spatial position (up ahead). 「お先に」 is the polite version, especially a leaving-work greeting. This guide covers 「先に／お先に」's use, that “getting ahead” feel, and separates it from 「まず／前もって」.

Core: “getting ahead” in order/position

The core of 「先に」 is “first, ahead” — coming before others in time order (do/go first), or being ahead in space, with a “one step ahead” sense:

• Earlier in time (do/go first): 君は先に行って (you go first), 先に食べてて (go ahead and eat).
• Ahead in space (up ahead): その先に駅がある (there's a station up ahead).
• お先に (polite, greeting): お先に失礼します (I'll head out first).

Feel: “one step ahead, in front” — coming first in order or position.

How to Connect

Example sentences

• 君は先に行って。後で追いつくから。(You go on ahead — I'll catch up.) — earlier in time
• お腹すいたなら、先に食べてていいよ。(If you're hungry, go ahead and eat first.) — do first
• （退社時）お先に失礼します。(I'll head out first.) — greeting
• 会議で先に結論から言うと、予算オーバーです。(To give the conclusion first, it's over budget.) — say first
• その角を曲がった先に、コンビニがある。(Just past that corner, there's a convenience store.) — ahead in space

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① 「お先に失礼します」 is said when ‘you' leave first. Leaving the workplace before others, you say 「お先に失礼します (I'll head out first)」 to those staying; when someone else leaves first, you reply 「お疲れ様でした」. To let the other go first, use 「お先にどうぞ (after you)」. So 「お先に失礼します」 is a greeting for your own early departure, not telling others to go first.

② 「先に」 (ahead in order/space) vs 「〜前に」 (before ~). Influenced by Chinese “先…再…,” learners misuse it. 先に = before others/something, in front (先に行く = go first); 〜前に = before (an action/time) (食べる前に手を洗う = wash hands before eating). 先に is “get ahead,” 〜前に is “before …” — don't mix them.

③ 「先に」 (do first) vs 「まず」 (first, step one). 先に = before others/other things (stressing the order ‘ahead') (先に君が話して = you speak first); まず = first (the ‘first step' when listing steps) (まず野菜を切る = first cut the vegetables, then…). For “ahead of others/other things” use 先に; for “(as a step) first” use まず.

🔄 Compare: 先に／まず／前もって／先(さき)

💡 An exam judgment tip

「先に・お先に」 are super handy in daily life and at work, at their core “getting ahead in order or position”: earlier in time (君は先に行って = you go first, 先に食べてて = go ahead and eat), ahead in space (この先 = up ahead here). The most useful is 「お先に失礼します」 — a greeting when you leave the workplace before others (when someone else leaves first, you reply 「お疲れ様」; to let them go first, use 「お先にどうぞ」). Two points: ① separate it from 「〜前に (before ~)」 — 先に is “get ahead,” 〜前に is “before …”; ② separate it from 「まず (first)」 — 先に is “ahead of others/other things,” まず is “(as a step) first.” Workplace etiquette often tests 「お先に失礼します」 — nail it.

❓ FAQ

Q: When do you say 「お先に失礼します」? Is it telling others to go first?

No — it's a greeting when ‘you' leave first. 「お先に失礼します」 = “I'll head out first / excuse me for leaving ahead” — at work, when you leave before others, you say this to colleagues still there (with a polite “sorry for leaving first”). They reply 「お疲れ様でした (good work)」. Related greetings: ① you leave first → you say 「お先に失礼します」 (colleagues reply お疲れ様); ② someone else leaves first → you say 「お疲れ様でした」; ③ to let the other go first (elevator, doorway) → say 「お先にどうぞ (after you)」. So 「お先に失礼します」 is a humble greeting for your own early departure, not telling others to go first. 「失礼します」 itself is “excuse me / I'll take my leave,” and adding 「お先に」 makes it “taking my leave (ahead of everyone).” It's a daily Japanese workplace phrase, and exams love testing the setting.

Q: How do I tell 「先に」 from 「まず」? (both mean ‘first')

By “before others/other things (order)” vs “(as a step) first, step one.” 「先に」 = before others, before another thing (stressing the ‘ahead' order, often with a counterpart): あなたが先に話してください (you speak first — before me), みんなより先に着いた (arrived before everyone), 先にお風呂に入っていいよ (go ahead and bathe first — before me). It stresses “A before B.” 「まず」 = first (the ‘first step' when listing steps/order, often followed by 「次に、それから」): まず野菜を切って、次に炒めます (first cut the vegetables, then stir-fry — step one), まず自己紹介をします (first, a self-introduction), まず落ち着こう (first, let's calm down). It stresses “the first in a sequence.” So: “before others/other things” → 先に; “(as a step) first, step one” → まず. 「先に食べて」 = you eat first (before me); 「まず手を洗って、それから食べる」 = first wash hands, then eat (steps). One is about “order relative to a counterpart,” the other about “sequence of steps.”

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. (when leaving work)「___失礼します。」

(A) お先に　(B) わざと　(C) せっかく　(D) たまに

Q2. 「君は___行って。後で行くから。」(you go ahead)

(A) 先に　(B) あとで　(C) もう　(D) まだ

Q3. 「お先に失礼します」を使う場面は?

(A) A greeting when leaving before others (leaving work/one's seat)

(B) Meeting for the first time

(C) Thanking

(D) Apologizing for being late

Q4. 「先に」と「まず」の違いは?

(A) 先に = earlier in order/time; まず = the first step in a sequence

(B) The two are exactly the same

(C) 先に = beforehand

(D) まず = last

Q5. 用法が正しいのは?

(A) お先に失礼します。　(B) お先に失礼してください（when leaving yourself）。

(C) 先に失礼しろ。　(D) お先まず失礼。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) お先に ── a parting greeting.

2. (A) 先に ── you go ahead.

3. (A) ── a greeting when leaving before others.

4. (A) ── 先に is earlier in order; まず is the first step.

5. (A) ── 「お先に失礼します」 is correct (when leaving yourself, no てください).