At a glance
Noun に先駆けて means "ahead of" or "prior to". It is used when something happens before others do it, or before a public event. It is formal and mostly used in news, business and announcements.
[Noun] に先駆けて、[main clause]
[Noun] に先駆けた [Noun]
その会社は他社に先駆けて新製品を発売しました。 The company released the new product ahead of other companies.
How to form it
に先駆けて attaches to a noun only.
| Attaches to | Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noun (others: companies, countries) | Noun + に先駆けて | 世界に先駆けて | ahead of the rest of the world |
| Noun (an event) | Noun + に先駆けて | 発売に先駆けて | prior to the release |
| Before a noun | Noun + に先駆けた + Noun | 世界に先駆けた技術 | technology ahead of the world |
| Written connective | Noun + に先駆け、 | 公開に先駆け、 | prior to the release (to the public) |
Register: formal, mostly written or used in announcements.