に先立って details
write + prior to
kaku ni sakidatte
prior to; in advance of — a formal step taken before a significant, often scheduled event
meaning: prior to writing
会議を開催するにさきだって、資料を配布した。
kaigi o kaisaisuru ni sakidatte, shiryou o haifu shita.
We distributed materials prior to holding the meeting. neutral
発売に先立ち、事前予約を受け付けております。
hatsubai ni sakidachi, jizen yoyaku o uketsukete orimasu.
Ahead of the release, we are accepting advance reservations. formal
- dictionary form
- noun
- formal
- formal
Examples
prior to; in advance of — a formal step or announcement made before a scheduled, significant event
会議を開催するにさきだって、資料を配布した。
kaigi o kaisaisurunisakidatte, shiryou o haifu shita.
We distributed materials prior to holding the meeting. neutral
発売に先立ち、事前予約を受け付けております。
hatsubai ni sakidachi, jizen yoyaku o uketsukete orimasu.
Ahead of the release, we are accepting advance reservations. formal
開会に先立って、一言ご挨拶申し上げます。
kaikai ni sakidatte, hitokoto go aisatsu moushiagemasu.
Prior to the opening, allow me to say a few words of greeting. formal
Formation
{V}にさきだってattaches to dictionary form{N}にさきだってattaches to noun
Variant notes
- に先立ち — て-drop for written and formal connecting clauses — 開会に先立ち、資料を配布した; not used in conversation.
- に先立ちまして — に先立って with the polite ます inserted — the form a ceremonial speech or formal announcement reaches for.
Related patterns
Similar
に先立って is まえに's formal, written-register partner, but only felicitous before a scheduled, significant EVENT (開会に先立って, 発売に先立って) — bare まえに works before any everyday action with no such restriction (寝るまえに, 出るまえに).
Lookalikes
にあたって and に先立って share the same formal register and the same "V dictionary form + に〜" shape, but にあたって marks simultaneity WITH the undertaking itself (the undertaking IS the occasion), while に先立って marks a separate act done BEFORE it in preparation — 開会にあたって挨拶する speaks at the opening, 開会に先立って挨拶する speaks before it.
に先立って shares に際して's stiff written register and the same "V dictionary form + に〜" shape, but marks strict temporal PRECEDENCE — an action taken before the referenced event as preparation (開会に先立って、一言ご挨拶申し上げます) — while に際して anchors to the period around the event itself without asserting precedence, and routinely covers the run-up to it too (出発に際して荷物を確認する).