Japanese symbol for “foremost”
真っ先
まっさき
Romaji: massaki
the head; the foremost; beginning; the very front
In Japanese, foremost is 真っ先, read まっさき (massaki).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n the head; the foremost; beginning; the very front
Written forms: 真っ先、まっ先、真先. Readings: まっさき.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “foremost”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 有数 | ゆうすう yuusuu | prominent; eminent; leading |
| 一 | いち ichi | first; foremost |
| 屈指 | くっし kusshi | leading; foremost; preeminent |
| 指折り | ゆびおり yubiori | leading; prominent; eminent |
| 真先 | まさき masaki | the head; the foremost; beginning |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 写真 | しゃしん shashin | photograph; photo; picture |
| 真実 | しんじつ shinjitsu | truth; reality |
| 真ん中 | まんなか mannaka | middle; centre; center |
| 真相 | しんそう shinsou | truth; real situation |
| 真理 | しんり shinri | truth |
| 真剣 | しんけん shinken | serious; earnest |
| 先生 | せんせい sensei | teacher; instructor; master |
| 優先 | ゆうせん yuusen | preference; priority; precedence |
See also: Chinese symbol for “foremost”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.