Chinese–EnglishWith examples

首先

shǒu xiān · shou xian

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 3Old HSK 4

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. first (of all)
  2. in the first place
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In a conversation

0:20 cartoon

How to brew tea

  1. Liangliang

    我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)学(xué)泡茶(pàochá)，怎么(zěnme)泡(pào)？

    I want to learn to make tea. How?

  2. Dengdeng

    首先(shǒuxiān)，把(bǎ)水(shuǐ)烧开(shāokāi)。

    First of all, boil the water.

  3. Liangliang

    然后(ránhòu)呢(ne)？

    And then?

  4. Dengdeng

    然后(ránhòu)把(bǎ)茶叶(cháyè)放进(fàngjìn)杯子(bēizi)，倒水(dǎoshuǐ)，等(děng)三分钟(sānfēnzhōng)。

    Then put tea leaves in the cup, pour water and wait three minutes.

  5. Liangliang

    首先(shǒuxiān)，我(wǒ)要(yào)说(shuō)，三分钟(sānfēnzhōng)太(tài)长(cháng)了(le)！

    First of all, I have to say, three minutes is too long!

  6. Dengdeng

    那(nà)你(nǐ)的(de)第一步(dìyībù)，是(shì)先(xiān)学会(xuéhuì)等(děng)。

    Then your first step is learning to wait.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

首(shǒu)先(xiān)，我(wǒ)要(yào)听(tīng)听(tīng)双(shuāng)方(fāng)的(de)意(yì)见(jiàn)。

First, I should hear both sides.

Tatoeba: Chinese by fucongcong · English by sacredceltic · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

首(shǒu)先(xiān)，我(wǒ)们(men)检(jiǎn)查(chá)出(chū)勤(qín)情(qíng)况(kuàng)。

Firstly, let's check the attendance.

Tatoeba: Chinese by vicch · English by vicch · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

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How to write

Stroke order & practice

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

The characters

Explore individually
首
shǒu

head; chief

先
xiān

beforehand; first; earlier; at first; originally

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

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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