〜に先立って

Prior to

Level 4Sounds Like nisakidatsute

Used in formal contexts to describe a necessary preparatory action taken before a major event or ceremony.

How It Works

This pattern is primarily used in formal writing, business, news reporting, and ceremonies. It emphasizes that the second action (B) is a preparation for the first significant event (A). It is similar in formality to 〜に際して or 〜にあたって, but with key distinctions: 〜に先立って focuses specifically on the time before the event, whereas the others focus on the start or duration of the event itself. Furthermore, while 〜にあたって is generally used for positive, neutral, or important business events, 〜に先立って can also be used for negative or solemn events (e.g., 倒産（とうさん）に先立って, 葬儀（そうぎ）に先立って).

1. Usage Context:
It is used for large-scale or official events like weddings, product launches, construction, or international meetings, as well as formal reporting of natural phenomena (e.g., 地震（じしん）に先立って). You should not use it for trivial daily routines like brushing teeth before bed. Additionally, the second half of the sentence almost always requires an intentional or volitional action by the speaker or organizer (except when objectively reporting objective facts, states, or natural phenomena).

2. Grammatical Forms:

  • Noun + 〜に先立って: The most common form. The noun must be an event or action noun (動作性名詞) such as 会議（かいぎ） or 移転（いてん）. It cannot be an ordinary physical object (e.g., ❌ パソコンに先立って). (e.g., 会議に先立って)
  • Verb (Dictionary Form) + 〜に先立って: Used when the significant event is a verb. (e.g., 契約（けいやく）を結（むす）ぶに先立って). Important Note: The verb before に先立って must always be in the dictionary form. It is never used in the past tense (〜た), even if the main event happened in the past. Occasionally, the nominalizer の is inserted before the particle (Verb [Dictionary Form] + の + に先立って), such as 契約を結ぶのに先立って.
  • Noun Modification: When modifying a noun, use 〜に先立つ（にさきだつ）. Note that this modification form is almost exclusively used with nouns (Noun + に先立つ + Noun). It is generally not used with verbs. (e.g., 移転に先立つ準備（じゅんび） - Preparations prior to the relocation).

3. Common Collocations:
The preparatory action (the second half of the sentence) is very frequently paired with the 〜ておく (to do in advance) verb form (e.g., 会議に先立って、資料（しりょう）を集（あつ）めておく).

4. Formal Variations & Similar Expressions:

  • 〜に先立ち（にさきだち）: A more literary version often found in formal speeches or written reports.
  • 〜に先立ちまして（にさきだちまして）: The most polite version, frequently heard in formal announcements or presentations.
  • Note on 〜に先駆けて（にさきがけて）: Do not confuse 〜に先立って (prior to/in preparation for an event) with 〜に先駆けて, which means doing something before anyone else or being a pioneer in a field.

Examples (4)

  1. 新製品の発売に先立って、記者発表会が行われた。

    Prior to the release of the new product, a press conference was held.

    Word by Word: New product's release to prior-to, press conference (subject) was held.

    The press conference is a formal preparatory step for the product launch.

  2. 工事を開始するに先立ち、近隣住民への説明会を開いた。

    Prior to starting the construction, an explanatory meeting was held for local residents.

    Word by Word: Construction (object) start to prior-to, neighborhood residents to explanatory-meeting (object) opened.

    Using the formal 〜に先立ち（にさきだち） form to indicate a necessary social step before a major project.

  3. 試験の実施に先立つ注意事項をよく読んでください。

    Please carefully read the cautionary notes prior to the administration of the exam.

    Word by Word: Exam's administration to prior-to cautionary-notes (object) well read please.

    This shows the noun-modifying form 〜に先立つ（にさきだつ） describing the 'notes'.

  4. 開会に先立ちまして、主催者よりご挨拶申し上げます。

    Prior to the opening of the ceremony, the organizer will give a greeting.

    Word by Word: Opening to prior-to (polite), organizer from greeting say (humble).

    The most polite form 〜に先立ちまして（にさきだちまして） is used here, typical of formal ceremonies.

Common Mistakes

  • Using it for trivial daily activities.

    寝るに先立って、歯を磨きます。
    寝る前に、歯を磨きます。

    〜に先立って is too formal for daily habits like brushing teeth. Use 前に for everyday actions.

  • Confusing it with 先だって（せんだって） meaning 'the other day'.

    先立ってお世話になりました。
    先日はお世話になりました。

    While the kanji is the same, 先だって（せんだって） is an adverb meaning 'the other day.' The grammar pattern 〜に先立って always requires the particle に and functions as 'prior to.'

  • Adding the particle の between a noun and に先立って.

    会議のに先立って、資料を配ります。
    会議に先立って、資料を配ります。

    Unlike verbs, which can sometimes take the nominalizer の before に先立って, nouns must connect directly to the pattern without any intervening particles.

How It Connects

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〜に先立ってLevel 4Prior to

Learn This First

〜に先立って is a formal expression meaning 'prior to' or 'before'. It is constructed using the particle 'に' and the te-form of the verb '先立つ' (to precede). Learners should be familiar with basic temporal markers and formal verb structures before approaching this pattern.

Words in This Pattern

先立って先立つ