미리 vs 앞서

Korean word comparison

How they differ

앞서 is used more often to mean “ahead of time” in a sequence or timeline, and it can also mean “earlier” or “in front of” depending on context. 미리 is the more common everyday word for doing something before the needed time, so it sounds more directly like “prepared in advance.”

When to use each

When to use 미리: Use 미리 when you mean “in advance” in everyday speech, especially for preparation, notice, or early action.

When to use 앞서: Use 앞서 when you want a slightly more literary or time-sequence feel, or when the context makes “earlier” sound natural.

Side-by-side examples

1. 미리 준비해 두세요.
   (Please prepare it in advance.)
2. 회의 시작 전에 앞서 자료를 확인해 주세요.
   (Please check the materials before the meeting starts.)

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More 미리 comparisons

• 미리 vs 사전에
• 미리 vs 일찍이