This site will be taken down March 31st, 2026.

This was not an easy decision to make. For the last couple years, I have been struggling to find motivation for this site and to keep up with basic maintenance and security updates. With the rise of AI and more sophisticated tools, the usefulness of sites like this is questionable and traffic has nose-dived. I just don't have it in me to keep doing this. Thank you all for 10 years of support!

Zach

先んすれば人を制す、早い者勝ち。

Sentence Analyzer

すれば 制す 早い者勝ち

English Translation

First come, first served.

Furigana

(さき)んすれば(ひと)(せい)す、(はや)者勝(しゃが)ち。

Romanji

Saki n sureba hito o seisu, hayaishagachi.

Words

(さき)
previous; prior; former; some time ago; preceding; point (e.g. pencil); tip; end; nozzle; head (of a line); front; ahead; the other side; the future; hereafter; destination; the other party
()
yes; yeah; uh huh; negative verb ending used in informal speech (abbr. of negative verb ending "nu"); abbr. of particle "no"; abbr. of particle "ni" (used especially when it precedes the verb "naru")
為る (する)
to do; to cause to become; to make (into); to turn (into); to serve as; to act as; to work as; to wear (clothes, a facial expression, etc.); to judge as being; to view as being; to think of as; to treat as; to use as; to decide on; to choose; to be sensed (of a smell, noise, etc.); to be (in a state, condition, etc.); to be worth; to cost; to pass (of time); to elapse; verbalizing suffix (applies to nouns noted in this dictionary with the part of speech "vs"); creates a humble verb (after a noun prefixed with "o" or "go"); to be just about to; to be just starting to; to try to; to attempt to
(ひと、ヒト)
man; person; human being; mankind; people; human (Homo sapiens); humans as a species; character; personality; man of talent; true man; another person; other people; others; adult
()
indicates direct object of action; indicates subject of causative expression; indicates an area traversed; indicates time (period) over which action takes place; indicates point of departure or separation of action; indicates object of desire, like, hate, etc.
制す (せいす)
to control; to command; to get the better of
早い者勝ち (はやいものがち)
first come, first served

Kanji

Readings: セン、 さき、 ま.ず
Meanings: before, ahead, previous, future, precedence
Readings: ジン、 ニン、 ひと、 -り、 -と
Meaning: person
Reading: セイ
Meanings: system, law, rule
Readings: ソウ、 サッ、 はや.い、 はや、 はや-、 はや.まる、 はや.める、 さ-
Meanings: early, fast
Readings: シャ、 もの
Meanings: someone, person
Readings: ショウ、 か.つ、 -が.ち、 まさ.る、 すぐ.れる、 かつ
Meanings: victory, win, prevail, excel