先 xiān — early; prior; former; in advance; first
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.
Common words: 先生 (xiān sheng)、首先 (shǒu xiān)、领先 (lǐng xiān)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "first"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "first", including 先 (xiān), 元 (yuán), 首 (shǒu), 首 (shǒu), 初 (chū). Study pinyin, English meanings…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "first" covers 5 different Chinese characters — 先 (xiān), 元 (yuán), 首 (shǒu), 首 (shǒu), 初 (chū) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 5 characters do not share a sound — their readings span xiān, yuán, shǒu, chū — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 先 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 先 xiānearly; prior; former; in advance; firstUseful words: 先生, 首先
- 元 yuán(dynasty); dollar; primary; firstUseful words: 美元, 单元
- 首 shǒuhead; chief; first (occasion); first (thing); measure word for poemsUseful words: 首先, 首都
- 首 shǒuhead; chief; first (occasion); first (thing); measure word for poemsUseful words: 首先, 首都
- 初 chūat first; (at the) beginning; first; junior; basicUseful words: 当初, 初步
Common words for these 5 "first" characters
Anchor each of these 5 characters in a word you can picture — start with 先 (xiān) — so "first" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
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美元měi yuánAmerican dollar; US dollar单元dān yuánunit (forming an entity); element; (in a residential building) entrance or staircase公元gōng yuánCE (Common Era); Christian Era; AD (Anno Domini)首先shǒu xiānfirst of all; in the first place首都shǒu dūcapital (city)首次shǒu cìfirst; first time; for the first time首先shǒu xiānfirst of all; in the first place
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 5 ways to say "first".
元 yuán — (dynasty); dollar; primary; first
这本书五十元。Zhè běn shū wǔ shí yuán.This book costs fifty yuan.
Common words: 美元 (měi yuán)、单元 (dān yuán)、公元 (gōng yuán)
首 shǒu — head; chief; first (occasion); first (thing); measure word for poems
我很喜欢这首歌。Wǒ hěn xǐ huan zhè shǒu gē.I really like this song.
Common words: 首先 (shǒu xiān)、首都 (shǒu dū)、首次 (shǒu cì)
首 shǒu — head; chief; first (occasion); first (thing); measure word for poems
我很喜欢这首歌。Wǒ hěn xǐ huan zhè shǒu gē.I really like this song.
Common words: 首先 (shǒu xiān)、首都 (shǒu dū)、首次 (shǒu cì)
初 chū — at first; (at the) beginning; first; junior; basic
春天初到，花儿刚刚开放。Chūn tiān chū dào, huā ér gāng gāng kāi fàng.Early spring has just arrived, and the flowers have just bloomed.
Common words: 当初 (dāng chū)、初步 (chū bù)、初中 (chū zhōng)
All 5 characters
Open 先、元、首 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.