先
さき · saki · JLPT N5 · noun
future; recent; previous
👉 saki = the tip that points ahead: what lies ahead, or what went ahead
先 originally means the tip or front end of something. Whatever is at the front is ahead of you (the future), and whatever went in front came first (previous, earlier). One word, both directions from the same leading point.
先 — 𠂉 (person variant) on top + 儿 (legs) below
先 originally depicted a person with a foot or step shown above the legs 儿, suggesting someone walking ahead. From this image of going before others came the meanings 'first,' 'earlier,' and 'ahead.' The modern shape preserves the 'legs' radical underneath.
せん · sen · JLPT N1 · noun
precedence
先 — 𠂉 (person variant) on top + 儿 (legs) below
先 originally depicted a person with a foot or step shown above the legs 儿, suggesting someone walking ahead. From this image of going before others came the meanings 'first,' 'earlier,' and 'ahead.' The modern shape preserves the 'legs' radical underneath.