先 xiān first
first; beforehand
How to remember 先: 𠂒 calf + 儿 son = first. At the petting zoo a calf escapes, the farmer's little son sprints after it, but the calf always gets there first.
Component breakdown
先 = 𠂒 calf + 儿 son
- 𠂒 calf
- 儿 son
At the petting zoo a calf escapes, the farmer's little son sprints after it, but the calf always gets there first.
How it came to be
A foot drawn above a pair of legs: somebody stepping out in front of somebody else.
How it is used
- First / beforehand, marking sequence - 你先走 (nǐ xiān zǒu) you go first, 先…再… (xiān…zài… first…, then…).
- 先生 (xiānsheng) Mr / sir and 首先 (shǒuxiān) firstly build on it; opposite of 后 (hòu, after) - 然后 (ránhòu) then, afterwards.
Characters built with 先
Words with 先
- 先生xiānshēngMr.; sirHSK 1
- 首先shǒuxiānfirst (of all)HSK 4
- 事先shìxiānin advanceHSK 5
- 先后xiānhòuearly or lateHSK 5
- 先进xiānjìnsophisticatedHSK 5
- 领先lǐngxiānto leadHSK 5
- 优先yōuxiānto have priorityHSK 6
- 先前xiānqiánbeforeHSK 6
- 原先yuánxiānoriginallyHSK 6
- 率先shuàixiānto take the leadHSK 6
- 祖先zǔxiānancestorsHSK 6
- 争先恐后zhēngxiān-kǒnghòustriving to be first and fearing to be lastHSK 7
- 先例xiānlìprecedentHSK 7
- 先天xiāntiānembryonic period (contrasted with 后天)HSK 7
- 预先yùxiānbeforehandHSK 7
- 先锋xiānfēngvanguardHSK 8
Example sentences
- 小女孩先上车。 Xiǎo nǚhái xiān shàngchē.The little girl gets on the bus first.
- 饭前先吃点小吃吧！ Fàn qián xiān chī diǎn xiǎochī ba!Let's eat some snacks before the meal.
- 先洗手，然后吃饭。 Xiān xǐshǒu, ránhòu chīfàn.Wash your hands before you eat.
- 他总是先想别人，其次才想到自己。 Tā zǒng shì xiān xiǎng biéren, qícì cái xiǎng dào zìjǐ.He always thinks of others first, then himself.