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先だって (せんだって) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

先せんだって

せ

ん

だ

っ

て

○

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun, adverb

the other day; recently; some time ago

Refers to a recent but not immediate past event; often used in conversation or informal writing.

先せんだってはどうもありがとうございました。
Thank you for the other day.
先せんだってお会あいしたときに

お

話はな

し

し

た

件けん

です

が

。

Regarding the matter we discussed when we met recently.

Written forms

先せんだってUsage56%
Standard spelling using okurigana; preferred for clarity.
せんだってUsage37%
Kana spelling is common in informal writing and avoids kanji ambiguity.
先せん達だってUsage8%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)rarely-used kanji form
Ateji spelling; rarely used and may confuse readers.

Kanji

先before, ahead, previous
達accomplished, reach, arrive

Similar words

この間あいだ
More casual and conversational; often used for very recent events.
先せん日じつ
More formal and common in written or business contexts.

Etymology

Derived from 先 (previous) + だって (a colloquial form of だとて, meaning 'even though it is'). The exact historical development is uncertain, but it functions as a set phrase meaning 'the other day'.