〜に先立ち: 'Prior To' / 'Before' an Important Event
Doing something before a major event
に先立ち marks an action carried out in advance of something significant — it sets up, announces, or prepares for the main event that follows. It's a fixture of formal announcements, news reports, and official notices.
会議に先立ち、資料を配布いたします。
かいぎに さきだち、しりょうを はいふいたします。
Prior to the meeting, we will distribute the materials.
新製品の発売に先立ち、記者会見を行います。
しんせいひんの はつばいに さきだち、きしゃかいけんを おこないます。
Prior to the new product's launch, we will hold a press conference.
試験の開始に先立ち、注意事項を説明します。
しけんの かいしに さきだち、ちゅういじこうを せつめいします。
Before the exam begins, I will explain the important points.
What it attaches to
に先立ち attaches to a noun naming the upcoming event, or to a verb in dictionary form for the same idea. The stem form 先立ち is common in writing; 先立って is a slightly softer variant used the same way.
| Attaches to | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun (event) | 開会 + に先立ち | 開会に先立ち |
| Verb (dictionary form) | 〜する + に先立ち | 出発するに先立ち |
| Softer variant | 名詞 + に先立って | 開会に先立って |
やったんは発表に先立って、もちに練習を見てもらった。
やったんは はっぴょうに さきだって、もちに れんしゅうを みてもらった。
Before his presentation, Yattan had Mochi watch him practice.
に先立ち vs に先駆けて: preparing before vs. being first
Both point "ahead" of something, but the direction of comparison differs. に先立ち simply means an action comes before a later event — no competition implied. に先駆けて means being the first to do something, ahead of other people or companies — it always implies rivals or peers who haven't done it yet.
発売に先立ち記者会見を開いた会社が、業界に先駆けて新技術を発表した。
はつばいに さきだち きしゃかいけんを ひらいた かいしゃが、ぎょうかいに さきがけて しんぎじゅつを はっぴょうした。
The company that held a press conference before the launch announced new technology ahead of the industry.
に先立ち = before the launch event; に先駆けて = ahead of competitors.
The short version
- 〜に先立ち = "before / prior to" a major event, in preparation for it.
- Attaches to: a noun naming the event, or a dictionary-form verb.
- Nuance/register: formal, common in announcements, news, and official notices.
- Don't confuse with: に先駆けて, which means being first among rivals, not simply "beforehand."
Practice it
Choose に先立ち when an action happens in preparation for a later, major event.
＿＿＿に入れるのに最もよいものを選びなさい。
会議＿＿＿、資料を配布いたします。
Where 〜に先立ち fits
Shaky on this? Get these solid first
- 〜に行く · N5 — 〜に行く/来る/帰る says you go, come, or return somewhere to do something. Learn the ます-stem + に pattern, suru-nouns like 買い物に行く, and how to mark the place.
- 〜てください · N5 — 〜てください is the standard way to politely ask someone to do something ('please do…'). Learn the formation, the negative 〜ないでください, softer variations, and see clear examples.
More N2 grammar to explore
Keep going with related patterns at the same level:
- 〜に従って — 〜に従って has two jobs: 'in accordance with' rules or instructions, and 'as X, so Y' for proportional change. Learn both senses and how to tell them apart from に則って.
- 〜にしたら — 〜にしたら marks whose point of view a statement is made from — 子どもにしたら不満だろう ('from the child's perspective, it's probably unsatisfying'). Learn the form and how it differs from にとって.
- 〜にしても〜にしても — 〜にしても〜にしても pairs two contrasting options — verbs, nouns, or opposites — and says the outcome doesn't change either way: 'whether it's A or B.' It often sets up advice or a fact that already held true no matter which option happened.
- 〜に沿って — 〜に沿って attaches to a noun naming a line, course, or standard — a river, a policy, a set of needs — and means 'along' or 'in line with.' Before a following noun it becomes に沿った, and the abstract sense always implies closely tracking something with an existing shape.
- 〜に伴って — 〜に伴って attaches to a noun or a change verb and links two things that happen together — 'as X progresses/increases, Y also happens.' It's the formal, often written way to describe accompanying change, close to につれて.
- 〜につけ — 〜につけ attaches to the dictionary form of a verb, often paired as AにつけBにつけ, and means 'whenever/every time X happens, the same feeling or thought follows.' It usually precedes a verb of remembering, noticing, or feeling.