How to Say ‘Do B first.’ in Japanese
Bを先にしてね。
B o saki ni shi te ne
[bee oh sah-kee nee shee teh neh]
💬 Usage Tip: Pattern: [Nを先にしてね] = “Do N first, okay?” Very natural for giving step order.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Direct orders can feel strong in Japanese, so adding [ね] makes it sound cooperative rather than bossy.
Phrase Breakdown
B
B
[bee]
B (placeholder variable)
“B” is a label for an item/option. Often used when comparing order: A/B.
Bを先にしてね。
Do B first, okay?
を
o
[oh]
object marker (marks what is acted on)
を marks the direct object—the thing you do/choose/move. Here, B is what you do first.
Bを先にしてね。
Do B first, okay?
先にして
saki ni shi te
do (it) first; make it first
先にする = “to do it first / prioritize it.” して is the te-form used for requests/soft instructions.
支払いを先にして。
Pay first, please.
Words in this phrase
先
saki
[sah-kee]
ahead; first (saki)
先 read さき means “first/ahead.” In ordering tasks, it means “before the others.”
Bを先にしてね。
Do B first, okay?
に
ni
[nee]
to; at; in (particle)
に in 先に shows sequence: “first / beforehand.”
Bを先にしてね。
Do B first, okay?
し
shi
[shee]
do; make (stem)
し is from する. In 先にして it means “make it first / do it first.”
Bを先にしてね。
Do B first, okay?
て
te
[teh]
te-form (request)
て makes a casual request: して = “do it.”
Bを先にしてね。
Do B first, okay?
ね
ne
[neh]
okay?; right? (softener)
ね softens the request and checks agreement, like “okay?”
Bを先にしてね。
Do B first, okay?
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