Keyword
first
- former
- previous
- Frequency
- #331
- Strokes
- 6
Readings
xiān100%
Mnemonic
Someone stepping 止 in front of another person 儿
Stroke order
Composed of
Used in characters
Used in vocabulary
先
beforehand; first; earlier; at first; originally; for the time being; for now; (prefix) my late (in referring to deceased relatives older than oneself)
先生
teacher; gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.); husband; (dialect) doctor
首先
first of all; in the first place
先进
sophisticated; advanced (technology etc); meritorious; exemplary (deeds etc)
先后
early or late; first and last; priority; in succession; one after another
优先
to have priority; to take precedence
领先
to lead; to be in front
先锋
vanguard; pioneer; avant-garde
率先
to take the lead; to show initiative
事先
in advance; before the event; beforehand; prior
先前
before; previously
原先
originally; original; former
祖先
ancestors; forebears; (biology) ancestral species; ancient species from which present-day species evolved
先行
to start off before the others; to precede; to proceed in advance
最先
(the) very first
先驱
to pioneer; pioneer; trailblazer
预先
beforehand; in advance
先知
a person of foresight; (religion) a prophet
先天
embryonic period (contrasted with 后天 (hòutiān)); inborn; innate; natural
先例
precedent
抢先
to rush (to do sth urgent); to try to be the first; to forestall
先导
to lead the way; guide; forerunner; pioneer
先秦
pre-Qin, Chinese history up to the foundation of the Qin imperial dynasty in 221 BC
早先
previously; before