also: せんこう
noun
before and after; order; sequence
Refers to temporal or logical order of events, or the sequence in which things occur. Often used in contexts like 先後関係 (chronological relationship) or 先後を争う (compete for priority).
事件の先後関係を明らかにする必要がある。
We need to clarify the chronological order of the events.
彼らは先後を争って出口に向かった。
They rushed to the exit, competing to be first.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
occurring almost simultaneously; inversion of order
Describes two events happening so close together that their order is reversed or indistinguishable. Often used in the phrase 先後になる or 先後する. The する form is intransitive.
二人の到着は先後になった。
The two arrived almost at the same time (with their order unclear).
スタートの合図で、選手たちの飛び出しは先後した。
At the starting signal, the runners took off almost simultaneously.
noun
Shogi term, abbreviation of 先手後手, referring to the two sides (black/white, or first/second player). Rare outside shogi contexts.
将棋では、先後の差が勝敗に大きく影響する。
In shogi, the difference between playing first (black) and second (white) greatly affects the outcome.