Chinese–EnglishWith examples

先

xiān · xian

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 1Old HSK 3

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. beforehand; first; earlier
  2. at first; originally
  3. for the time being; for now
  4. (prefix) my late (in referring to deceased relatives older than oneself)
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In a conversation

0:16 cartoon

Wash your hands first

  1. Liangliang

    灯灯(dēngdēng)，先(xiān)洗手(xǐshǒu)再(zài)吃饭(chīfàn)！

    Dengdeng, wash your hands first, then eat!

  2. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)先(xiān)看(kàn)一下(yīxià)手机(shǒujī)。

    I'll look at my phone first.

  3. Liangliang

    不行(bùxíng)，你(nǐ)先(xiān)洗手(xǐshǒu)。

    No, wash your hands first.

  4. Dengdeng

    好好好(hǎohǎohǎo)，我(wǒ)先(xiān)去(qù)。

    Okay okay, I'll go first.

  5. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)怎么(zěnme)这么(zhème)快(kuài)就(jiù)回来(huílai)了(le)？

    Why are you back so soon?

  6. Dengdeng

    水龙头(shuǐlóngtóu)没(méi)水(shuǐ)了(le)，你(nǐ)先(xiān)来(lái)看看(kànkan)！

    The tap has no water. Come and take a look first!

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

让(ràng)我(wǒ)们(men)先(xiān)谈(tán)谈(tán)在(zài)实(shí)验(yàn)室(shì)中(zhōng)做(zuò)的(de)实(shí)验(yàn)。

Let's first talk about the experiments done in the laboratory.

Tatoeba: Chinese by Martha · English by LeviHighway · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

02

你(nǐ)要(yào)先(xiān)输(shū)入(rù)好(hǎo)个(gè)人(rén)资(zī)料(liào)，然(rán)后(hòu)才(cái)能(néng)买(mǎi)票(piào)。

To purchase a ticket, you need to enter your personal details.

Tatoeba: Chinese by nickyeow · English by AlanF_US · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

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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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