先だって
せんだって · sendatte · JLPT N1 · noun
recently
📅 先 = earlier, before + だって = even, also: 'earlier, even just the other day'
Built on 先 (saki, earlier), the same root as 先日 (senjitsu, the other day). Use it for events from a few days ago.
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.