means "ahead of" others: someone does something first and the
rest follow later. It goes after a noun naming the others – rival companies,
other countries, the world, the times.
、。
We launched the new product ahead of other companies.
、。
We were the first in the world to adopt this technology.
、。
Japan was the first in the world to put high-speed rail into practical use.
The verb is , "lead the way". The pattern belongs to the news,
business writing and press releases, and it praises: the one who went first
is a pioneer. is a stiffer written form, and
modifies a noun.
。
The initiative, which was ahead of the industry, was highly regarded.
、。
His ideas, which were ahead of their time, were not easily understood back then.
に先駆けて or に先立って
After an event rather than a group, に先駆けて means something comes out
ahead of it – a preview, an early sale, a first look.
、。
Ahead of the release, a special preview screening was held.
is the plain "prior to": it marks what is done to prepare for
an event, and it says nothing about anyone being first. に先駆けて puts the
weight on being first.
Lingaku