Meaning
early; prior; former; in advance; first
Chinese: 时间或顺序在前。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “xian” becomes a different word in each tone. 先 is the 1st tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.
Stroke Order
Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.
Common Words
- 先生xiān shengteacher; gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.)
- 首先shǒu xiānfirst of all; in the first place
- 领先lǐng xiānto lead; to be in front
- 先进xiān jìnsophisticated; advanced (technology etc); meritorious; exemplary (deeds etc)
- 事先shì xiānin advance; before the event; beforehand; prior
Example Sentence
请你先走，我马上就来。Qǐng nǐ xiān zǒu, wǒ mǎ shàng jiù lái.Please go first; I will come right away.
请Qǐngto ask你nǐyou先xiānbeforehand走zǒuto walk，我wǒI马上mǎ shàngat once就jiùthen来láito come。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
之 (a foot stepping out) over 儿 (a person): one whose feet went ahead — ‘first, earlier, before; ahead; ancestor; the late (deceased)’ (先生, 首先, 祖先).
A way to remember it
Feet out ahead of the person — first, before.