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先を越す (さきをこす) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

先さきを越こす

also: せんをこす

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-su)

take the initiative; forestall; beat to the punch

Used when someone acts before another person, seizing an opportunity or advantage. Often implies a competitive or preemptive move.

彼かれに先さきを越こされて、いいアイデアを取とられてしまった。
He beat me to the punch and took the good idea.

ライバル

会社がいしゃ

に

先さき

を

越こ

さ

れ

ない

よう

に

、

早はや

く

新しん

製せい

品ひん

を

発はっ

表ぴょう

しよう

。

Let's announce the new product quickly so we don't get forestalled by our rival company.

Written forms

先を越す
- さきをこす
  Standard kanji spelling; the reading さきをこす is the most common.
- せんをこす
  Alternate reading; less common and may be considered non-standard by some speakers.
せんをこす

Kanji

先before, ahead, previous
越surpass, cross over, move to

Similar words

先せん手てを打うつ
Similar meaning of taking the initiative, but 先手を打つ emphasizes making a preemptive move in a strategic context, while 先を越す focuses on acting before someone else, often in a competitive or opportunistic situation.
出だし抜ぬく
Also means to outmaneuver or get ahead of someone, but 出し抜く often carries a nuance of cunning or underhandedness, whereas 先を越す is more neutral about the method.

Etymology

Compound of 先 (saki, 'ahead; before') + を (wo, object marker) + 越す (kosu, 'to go beyond; to surpass'). Literally 'to surpass what is ahead', i.e., to get ahead of someone.