前ぜん哨しょう戦せん

noun

preliminary skirmish; minor clash before a main battle

Military or strategic term for a small-scale engagement that precedes a larger conflict. Often used metaphorically.

• 両りょう軍ぐんの前ぜん哨しょう戦せんが国こっ境きょう付ふ近きんで始はじまった。

  A preliminary skirmish between the two armies began near the border.

noun

prelude; warm-up match; preliminary encounter

Commonly used in sports, politics, and business for a contest or event that serves as a lead-up to a more important one.

• 決けっ勝しょう前まえの前ぜん哨しょう戦せんとして、両りょうチームは練れん習しゅう試合じあいを行おこなった。

  As a warm-up match before the final, the two teams played a practice game.

• 来らい月げつの本ほん選せん挙きょに向むけた前ぜん哨しょう戦せんが各かく地ちで繰くり広ひろげられている。

  Preliminary encounters leading up to next month's main election are unfolding across the country.