先週

• Reading: せんしゅう
• Romaji: senshuu
• Kanji breakdown: 先 (sen/saki) — previous, before; 週 (shuu) — week
• Pronunciation: /seɴ.ɕɯː/

Meaning

Last week; the week before. Refers to the seven-day period before the current week.

Combines 先 (previous) and 週 (week). Part of the time-reference trio: 先週 (last week), 今週 (this week), 来週 (next week). Used with past tense to describe recent events. 先 also appears in 先月 (last month) and 先生 (teacher, literally 'one born before').

Examples

1. 先週、京都に行きました。 I went to Kyoto last week.
2. 先週のテストは難しかったです。 Last week's test was difficult.
3. 先週の土曜日に映画を見ました。 I watched a movie last Saturday.

Usage Guide

Context: recounting events, daily conversation, past tense

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

A Sino-Japanese compound of 先 (sen, previous/before) and 週 (shuu, week). 先 depicts a foot stepping forward, but in temporal use means 'what came before.'

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal