Chinese–EnglishWith examples

事先

shì xiān · shi xian

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 4Old HSK 5

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. in advance
  2. before the event
  3. beforehand
  4. prior
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In a conversation

0:24 cartoon

Tell me in advance

  1. Dengdeng

    亮亮(liàngliàng)，今天(jīntiān)晚上(wǎnshang)我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)请(qǐng)你(nǐ)吃饭(chīfàn)。

    Liangliang, tonight I want to treat you to dinner.

  2. Liangliang

    谢谢(xièxie)！你(nǐ)怎么(zěnme)不(bù)事先(shìxiān)告诉(gàosu)我(wǒ)？

    Thanks! Why did you not tell me in advance?

  3. Dengdeng

    事先(shìxiān)说(shuō)就(jiù)没有(méiyǒu)惊喜(jīngxǐ)了(le)。

    If I told you in advance, there would be no surprise.

  4. Liangliang

    可是(kěshì)我(wǒ)已经(yǐjīng)吃(chī)了(le)一个(yīgè)大(dà)面包(miànbāo)。你(nǐ)应该(yīnggāi)事先(shìxiān)问(wèn)我(wǒ)。

    But I already ate a big bread. You should have asked in advance.

  5. Dengdeng

    对不起(duìbuqǐ)。下次(xiàcì)我(wǒ)事先(shìxiān)问(wèn)你(nǐ)。

    Sorry. Next time I will ask in advance.

  6. Liangliang

    没(méi)关系(guānxi)。面包(miànbāo)很(hěn)小(xiǎo)，我(wǒ)还(hái)能(néng)吃(chī)三碗(sānwǎn)。

    No problem. The bread was small. I can still eat three bowls.

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

开(kāi)会(huì)前(qián)请(qǐng)事(shì)先(xiān)把(bǎ)材(cái)料(liào)发(fā)给(gěi)大(dà)家(jiā)。

Please send the materials to everyone in advance before the meeting.

02

他(tā)事(shì)先(xiān)没(méi)告(gào)诉(sù)我(wǒ)，所(suǒ)以(yǐ)我(wǒ)一(yì)点(diǎn)准(zhǔn)备(bèi)都(dōu)没(méi)有(yǒu)。

He didn't tell me beforehand, so I wasn't prepared at all.

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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