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Expressing "first or in advance" with 先 (xiān)
Sequence & Order
Time Expressions
Structure
先 + Verb (+ 再 + Verb)
Explanation
The adverb 先 (xiān) means "first" or "in advance" and is placed before a verb to indicate that one action should happen before another. It is essential for sequencing actions in Chinese, often paired with 再 or 然后 to express "first…then…"
Examples
你先吃饭，我等一下再吃。
nǐ xiān chīfàn, wǒ děng yíxià zài chī.
You eat first — I'll eat in a moment.
我们先把作业写完，然后再出去玩。
wǒmen xiān bǎ zuòyè xiě wán, ránhòu zài chūqù wán.
Let's finish our homework first, and then go out to play.
让我先想想，明天给你答复。
ràng wǒ xiān xiǎngxiang, míngtiān gěi nǐ dáfù.
Let me think about it first — I'll give you an answer tomorrow.