pureininzuu wa saki ni kakuninsuru ni koshita koto wa nai.

It is best to check the number of players first.

Breakdown of pureininzuu wa saki ni kakuninsuru ni koshita koto wa nai.

• は: topic particle
• 確認かくにんする: to check
• 先さき に: first

Questions & Answers about pureininzuu wa saki ni kakuninsuru ni koshita koto wa nai.

What does に越したことはない mean?

に越したことはない is a fixed grammar pattern meaning:

• there’s nothing better than ...
• it’s best to ...
• you can’t go wrong by ...
• it would be preferable to ...

So in this sentence, 確認するに越したことはない means something like it’s best to check or you should check if possible.

It often has the nuance that doing something is the safer, wiser, or more desirable choice.

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Why is it 確認するに越したことはない instead of 確認したほうがいい?

Both can mean something similar, but the nuance is a little different.

• 確認したほうがいい = you should check
  • more direct advice
• 確認するに越したことはない = it’s best to check / there’s nothing better than checking
  • slightly more indirect
  • often sounds more like as a precaution, that would be the wise thing to do

So に越したことはない often feels like cautious advice rather than a straightforward instruction.

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What is 越した doing here? Does it literally mean crossed or surpassed?