Prior to, ahead of: 〜に先立って
N / Verb (dictionary) + に先立って／に先立ち／に先立つ + N
N + に先立って (written: に先立ち; before a noun: に先立つ): ahead of an important event, as a preliminary step. Very formal: press and ceremonies.
In short
〜に先立って says that an action takes place before an event, as a preliminary step or official preparation: “prior to, ahead of, as a prelude to”. 先立つ means “to go in front, to precede”. The tone is very formal: the press, ceremonies, press releases.
- 映画の公開に先立って、名古屋で試写会が行われた。えいがのこうかいにさきだって、なごやでししゃかいがおこなわれた。Ahead of the film's release, a preview screening was held in Nagoya.
- 工事の開始に先立ち、住民への説明会を開きます。こうじのかいしにさきだち、じゅうみんへのせつめいかいをひらきます。Prior to the start of the works, we'll hold an information meeting for local residents.
- 新商品の発売に先立つ記者会見で、社長が新しい計画を発表した。しんしょうひんのはつばいにさきだつきしゃかいけんで、しゃちょうがあたらしいけいかくをはっぴょうした。At the press conference ahead of the new product's launch, the president announced a new plan.
- 試合に先立って、両チームの選手が握手をした。しあいにさきだって、りょうちーむのせんしゅがあくしゅをした。Before the match, the players of both teams shook hands.
The basics
先立つ is “to stand in front, to precede”. 〜に先立って presents an action as a preliminary: it comes before the main event and is linked to it, often as preparation or as an official opening (a preview before a release, an information meeting before works, a press conference before a launch).
You mostly read it in newspapers, press releases and ceremony programmes. Spoken aloud, it sounds like a TV newsreader.
Prior to the start of the works, we'll hold an information meeting for local residents.
- noun
- grammatical form
- verb
- 開会に先立ち、全員で国歌を歌った。かいかいにさきだち、ぜんいんでこっかをうたった。Before the opening of the session, everyone sang the national anthem.
- 本番に先立って、会場でリハーサルを行った。ほんばんにさきだって、かいじょうでりはーさるをおこなった。Ahead of the performance, we held a rehearsal at the venue.
How to form it
You attach に先立って to an event noun (発売, 開会, 試合) or, less often, to a verb in the dictionary form. に先立ち is the written continuative form. Before a noun, you use the verb directly: に先立つ + N (発売に先立つイベント).
| Construction | Example | Register |
|---|---|---|
| N + に先立って | 試合に先立って | formal |
| N + に先立ち | 開会に先立ち | very written, press |
| Verb (dictionary) + に先立って | 店を開くに先立って | written |
| に先立つ + N | 発売に先立つ記者会見 | press, headlines |
- 新しい店を開くに先立って、市場調査を行った。あたらしいみせをひらくにさきだって、しじょうちょうさをおこなった。Before opening the new shop, we carried out market research.
- 選挙に先立つ討論会がテレビで放送された。せんきょにさきだつとうろんかいがてれびでほうそうされた。The debate ahead of the election was broadcast on television.
に先立って, 前に, にあたって
前に is neutral: it just gives the time order, for any action (寝る前に, 食べる前に). に先立って adds a link: the action is an official preliminary to the event, and the event is important.
にあたって is about the frame of mind or the preparations on the threshold of a step, often from the point of view of the person taking it. に先立って stresses the order: this first, the event afterwards.
| Expression | Idea | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 前に | before (neutral) | 寝る前に歯を磨く |
| に先立って | as an official preliminary | 公開に先立って試写会を行う |
| にあたって | on the threshold of a step, preparing for it | 開店にあたって挨拶する |
- 寝る前に、少し本を読む。ねるまえに、すこしほんをよむ。Before going to sleep, I read a little. (simple time order)
- 会議に先立って、社長から短い説明があった。かいぎにさきだって、しゃちょうからみじかいせつめいがあった。As a preamble to the meeting, the president gave a short presentation.
Common mistakes
- Using it for an everyday “before”: “朝ごはんに先立って歯を磨く” is absurd. Say 朝ごはんの前に.
- Writing 先に立って: that's “to take the lead (of a group)”, a different meaning. The fixed expression is に先立って, with no particle in between.
- Hesitating before a noun: the most natural form is に先立つ + N (発売に先立つイベント).
7 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N2 point is on the Higashiyama Line (The working world) of the Nagoya lines.