先锋 (xiān fēng) is a noun meaning 'vanguard' or 'pioneer' — the person or group that leads the way in a field, especially in military, technology, or the arts. Unlike 前辈 (qián bèi, 'senior/predecessor'), which emphasizes experience and seniority, 先锋 stresses being at the forefront of new developments. Unlike 前沿 (qián yán, 'frontier'), which refers to the leading edge of a field, 先锋 refers to the people or groups at that edge.