先だって

• Reading: せんだって
• Romaji: sendatte
• Kanji breakdown: 先 (sen/saki) — previous, ahead
• Pronunciation: /seɴ.dat.te/

Meaning

The other day; some time ago; recently. A somewhat formal way to refer to a recent past event.

A noun and adverb meaning 'the other day' or 'recently,' used to reference something that happened in the near past, typically within the last few weeks. More formal than この前 (the other day) or 先日 (the other day), and often appears in business or polite conversation. Can also be written as 先立って, though the hiragana form is more common in modern usage.

Examples

1. 先だってはお忙しい中、ありがとうございました。 Thank you for taking the time the other day, despite your busy schedule.
2. 先だっての会議で決まった方針を確認しましょう。 Let's review the policy decided at the meeting the other day.
3. 先だってお話しした件について、進展がありました。 There has been a development regarding the matter we discussed the other day.

Usage Guide

Context: business, polite conversation, correspondence

Tone: polite

Origin & History

From 先 (saki/sen, ahead/previous) + 立つ (tatsu, to stand), originally meaning 'standing before' in time. The te-form became fixed as an adverb referring to the recent past.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal