先 (Kanji for earlier/ the tip)

Onyomi

SEN

We heard the other guys were going to pie him at noon, so we SENT him to hurl the pie at them, earlier!! Machiavelli, eat your heart out.

さき	the tip (of a spear, etc.) ★★★☆☆
さき ( にｘｘｘ )	this expression sucks. It means 'just a little while earlier in time,' but it ALSO means, 'just a little farther along in space.' Sorry. If you're on an elevator and want to say, "You go ahead and get off first, please," You'd say お先にどぞ。 Sheesh. JERK ★★★★★

先生(せんせい)	teacher ★★★★★ 先 (earlier/ the tip) + 生 (life / birth) = 先生 (teacher)
先月(せんげつ)	last month ★★★★★ 先 (earlier/ the tip) + 月 (moon) = 先月 (last month)
先週(せんしゅう)	last week ★★★★★ 先 (earlier/ the tip) + 週 (week) = 先週 (last week)
先年(せんねん)	not last year. ☆☆☆☆☆ 先 (earlier/ the tip) + 年 (year) = 先年 (not last year.) last year. PSYCHE。 you didn't think it would be that logical? last year is 去年：きょねん.

	Meaning	Hint	Radical
先	earlier/ the tip	LEGS OPEN
失	miss out on	LEGS CLOSED

1) Probably the first time you saw "先" , you were looking at the word for teacher (sensei)-- 先生

2) MISS is basically SENSEI but with its legs closer together. Therefore,

3) I missed out on sex with teacher because she kept her LEGS CLOSED.

See?

ancestor
先祖祖先

assumption
期待予想前提先入観

border, edge
国境境境界縁端末先外れ際

doctor/teacher
医者医師先生教師

go too far, jump the gun, press your luck
先走り席を越す調子に乗るあんまり

judge someone
偏見判断先入観判決裁く審査