先

xiān

儿 + 𠂒

HSK 2.0Level 3

HSK 3.0Level 3

Definitions

xiān (adverb) before; ahead; in advance; first

xiān (adjective) previous; former

Etymology

Depicts a person (人) stepping forward (止) leading the way.

About

The character 先 originally combined 止 (a foot) above 人 (a person), depicting someone stepping forward and leading the way. This conveyed the primary meanings of being first, prior, or earlier in time and sequence. From the idea of before, it extended to refer to ancestors, forebears, and those who came before, and it now commonly acts as a prefix indicating priority or preceding action in temporal contexts.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我先去吃饭。

Wǒ xiān qù chī fàn.

I'll go eat first.

你可以先走。

Nǐ kěyǐ xiān zǒu.

You can go first.

王先生来了。

Wáng xiānsheng lái le.

Mr. Wang has come.

我们先到里面去。

Wǒmen xiān dào lǐmiàn qù.

We'll go inside first.

你先洗手，再吃饭。

Nǐ xiān xǐ shǒu, zài chī fàn.

First wash your hands, then eat.

在开会之前，我们先讨论一下。

Zài kāihuì zhīqián, wǒmen xiān tǎolùn yīxià.

Before the meeting, let's discuss first.

如果你先完成作业，就可以看电视。

Rúguǒ nǐ xiān wánchéng zuòyè, jiù kěyǐ kàn diànshì.

If you finish your homework first, you can watch TV.

在考虑长期投资之前，必须先了解市场风险。

Zài kǎolǜ chángqī tóuzī zhīqián, bìxū xiān liǎojiě shìchǎng fēngxiǎn.

Before considering long-term investment, one must first understand market risks.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 儿

Component: 𠂒

Example Words