Hanzi

先

beforehand; first; earlier/at first; originally/for the time being; for now/(prefix) my late (in referring to deceased relatives older than oneself)

Hanzi

Grade

Grade 1

Pinyin

xiān

Bopomofo

ㄒㄧㄢ

Jyutping

sin1

Example sentences

先 xiān
你先走吧，我隨後就到。
你先走吧，我随后就到。

You go first, I'll be there shortly.

然後 / 然后 ránhòu
他先吃早餐，然後去學校。
他先吃早餐，然后去学校。

He eats breakfast first, then goes to school.

先生 xiānshēng
王先生是一位老師。
王先生是一位老师。

Mr. Wang is a teacher.

位 wèi
這位是王先生。
这位是王先生。

This is Mr. Wang.

事先 shìxiān
我們必須事先做好準備。
我们必须事先做好准备。

We must make preparations in advance.

巧合 qiǎohé
他們在機場偶遇純屬巧合，並非事先約定。
他们在机场偶遇纯属巧合，并非事先约定。

Their accidental meeting at the airport was a pure coincidence, not a prior arrangement.

優先 / 优先 yōuxiān
我們會優先處理您的訂單，請耐心等待。
我们会优先处理您的订单，请耐心等待。

We will prioritize processing your order, please wait patiently.

集體 / 集体 jítǐ
我們應該優先考慮集體的利益。
我们应该优先考虑集体的利益。

We should prioritize the collective's interests.

先進 / 先进 xiānjìn
這個國家擁有非常先進的技術。
这个国家拥有非常先进的技术。

This country possesses very advanced technology.

技術 / 技术 jìshù
這家公司的技術非常先進。
这家公司的技术非常先进。

This company's technology is very advanced.

Example Vocabulary

先

xian1

first; before; earlier

先生

xian1'sheng1

Mr.; teacher; husband

事先

shi4'xian1

in advance; beforehand

優先

you1'xian1

priority; first; precedence

先后

先進

xian1'jin4

advanced; predecessor

先鋒

xian1'feng1

vanguard; pioneer

一馬當先

yi1'ma3'dang1'xian1

佔先

zhan4'xian1

先下手為強

xian1'xia4'shou3'wei2'qiang2

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