Why can 「先」 be used to discuss future events?


Edit: I was convinced by some people that this question was caused by a
misunderstanding or a mishearing. However, I've managed to come across this
odd grammar again; this time as text in a chat, along with a translation and
context.

When asked about what they would do after graduation, a Japanese friend
replied with:

> 今を切り抜けるのに必死だから、先のことは考えたくないな

Of which she translated as:

> My school life is too busy, so I don't want to think about my future right
> now

After some probing, she explained:

>
> うーん。「先」は時間を指すだけじゃなく、場所についても使う言葉なんだ。私も無意識に使ってたけど、場所や時間において、前側の意味にもなるし、後ろや過去の意味にもなるんだよねー。
> で、私も不思議に思って調べてみました。今いる場所や時間から、後ろを向くと、過去や後ろ側が「先」になる。今いる場所や時間から前に向かうと未来やその場所の端が「先」になる。たぶん。

From the vague explanation, I could only understand that 先 can indeed be used
to talk about the future, which is reflected in its dictionary entry.

Could someone clarify? Without context, I would have assumed that the sentence
meant _I don't want to think about the things that have past._

--

Old question:

When asked if he is going to some place, my Japanese host often replies with:

> 先｛さき｝にいく

I was always confused as to why 「先」 could refer to the future in cases such as
this, as I've only been aware of the usage when referring to the past.

Here is an example of a conversation I remember us having:

> Me: お風呂｛ふろ｝に入るの？
>
> Host: 先｛さき｝に入るよ

In this case, my host explained that it meant that he would go later.

Can someone explain why it did not mean that he had already gone?




I'm not sure about your question, but at leaset I can explain the example.

Me: お​風呂に入るの？

Host: ​先​に入るよ。

I guess, when you see your host is going to take a bath, you'd like to confirm
it. Then you asked "（今から、あなたは）お風呂に入るの（ですか）？"

Then, your host replid "はい、私が先に入ります。" = "Yes, I'm taking a bath before you."

"先" is an expression of the order. "on ahead"

