(せん) (adj-no,n) (1) former; previous; old; (n) (2) first move (in go, shogi, etc.); opening move [EDICT]
(さき) (n,adj-no,n-suf,pref) (1) previous; prior; former; some time ago; preceding; (2) point (e.g. pencil); tip; end; nozzle; (3) head (of a line); front; (4) ahead; the other side; (5) the future; hereafter; (6) destination; (7) the other party; (P) [EDICT]
(xiān, ㄒㄧㄢ) early; prior; former; in advance; first [CE-DICT]
() (prt) endorsing and questioning the preceding statement (sentence ending particle); lamenting reflections on the preceding statement (sentence ending particle) [EDICT]
() (prt) (1) although; when; and yet; despite this; in spite of; even though; but even so; but even then; however; nevertheless; for all that; notwithstanding that; (2) while; (3) if only; I wish; (4) I tell you; you should do; (5) in order to; (P) [EDICT]