お先

• Reading: おさき
• Romaji: osaki
• Kanji breakdown: 先 (ahead/first) — お is an honorific prefix. Literally 'ahead' → I'm going ahead of you
• Pronunciation: /o.sa.ki/

Meaning

A casual way to say 'I'm heading out first' when leaving before others, shortened from お先に失礼します.

お先 is the truncated casual version of the formal お先に失礼します. It is used when leaving work, a gathering, or any shared activity before others. Among close colleagues and friends, dropping the rest of the phrase is perfectly natural and signals friendly familiarity rather than rudeness.

Examples

1. じゃ、お先〜！また明日。 Alright, I'm heading out! See you tomorrow.
2. 今日は用事あるからお先するね。 I've got something to do today, so I'm ducking out early.
3. お先！おつかれ〜。 I'm out! Good work today!

Usage Guide

Context: workplace peers, friends, casual groups

Tone: casual, friendly

Do Say

• お先！今日もおつかれ！ (I'm heading out! Good work today!)
• ちょっと早いけどお先するね (It's a bit early but I'm heading out first)

Don't Say

• 上司より先に帰る場合は「お先に失礼します」とフルで言う (When leaving before your boss, say the full お先に失礼します)

Common Mistakes

• Using お先 alone with superiors or in formal situations — the full phrase お先に失礼します is needed
• Forgetting that leaving before others in Japan carries social weight — even the casual form acknowledges this

Origin & History

Shortened from お先に失礼します (osaki ni shitsurei shimasu, 'excuse me for leaving first'). The abbreviation became standard casual speech in workplace and social settings.

Cultural Context

Era: Longstanding, casual abbreviation common since 2000s+

Generation: All working ages

Social background: Workplace casual

Regional notes: Used nationwide. The full form お先に失礼します is one of the most important workplace phrases to master.