先先Stroke order for 先

xiān
HSK 1HSK 1 (Write)Most Common

Basic Meaning

n
Used as a noun to refer to something or someone that comes first in time or sequence.
first; earlier; in advance (as opposed to '后')
时间或次序在前的（跟“后”相对）。
Words:
先例先进先期事先领先
Synonyms:
前早
Antonyms:
后
Sentences:
  1. 书(shū)册(cè)教(jiāo)育(yù)在(zài)我(wǒ)国(guó)从(cóng)古(gǔ)到(dào)今(jīn)不(bù)乏(fá)先(xiān)例(lì)。
    There are many precedents for book-based education in my country, from ancient times to the present.
adv
An adverb used to indicate that an action or event occurs before another.
first; beforehand
表示某一行为或事件发生在前。
Synonyms:
前
Sentences:
  1. 他(tā)比(bǐ)我(wǒ)先(xiān)到(dào)。
    He arrived before me.
adv
Commonly used in constructions like '先…再说' (let's ... for now).
for now; temporarily
暂时。
Sentences:
  1. 我(wǒ)们(men)先(xiān)去(qù)吃(chī)饭(fàn)，然(rán)后(hòu)再(zài)看(kàn)电(diàn)影(yǐng)。
    Let's go eat for now, and then we can watch the movie.
  2. 这(zhè)个(gè)问(wèn)题(tí)很(hěn)复(fù)杂(zá)，先(xiān)放(fàng)一(yī)放(fàng)再(zài)说(shuō)。
    This problem is very complicated; let's put it aside for now.
n
Refers to one's forebears or earlier people.
ancestor; forefather; previous generation
祖先；上代。
Words:
先人先民祖先先辈
Synonyms:
前
Antonyms:
后
Sentences:
  1. 这(zhè)些(xiē)习(xí)俗(sú)是(shì)我(wǒ)们(men)的(de)先(xiān)人(rén)留(liú)下(xià)的(de)宝(bǎo)贵(guì)遗(yí)产(chǎn)。
    These customs are the precious legacy left by our ancestors.
  2. 我(wǒ)们(men)永(yǒng)远(yuǎn)不(bù)能(néng)忘(wàng)记(jì)先(xiān)辈(bèi)们(men)的(de)贡(gòng)献(xiàn)。
    We must never forget the contributions of our forebears.
adj
Used as an honorific adjective before kinship terms or titles to refer to someone who has passed away, e.g., 先父 (my late father).
deceased; late (with respect)
已经死去的（含尊重意）。
Words:
先父先烈先哲先贤先师
Sentences:
  1. 我(wǒ)的(de)先(xiān)父(fù)曾(céng)是(shì)一(yī)位(wèi)受(shòu)人(rén)尊(zūn)敬(jìng)的(de)医(yī)生(shēng)。
    My late father was a respected doctor.
  2. 我(wǒ)们(men)要(yào)继(jì)承(chéng)先(xiān)烈(liè)的(de)革(gé)命(mìng)精(jīng)神(shén)。
    We must carry forward the revolutionary spirit of the martyrs.
n
A colloquial noun referring to a past time, similar to '以前'.
before; previously (colloquial)
〈口〉先前。
Words:
先前原先早先
Synonyms:
前早
Sentences:
  1. 我(wǒ)先(xiān)还(hái)住(zhù)在(zài)北(běi)京(jīng)，后(hòu)来(lái)才(cái)搬(bān)到(dào)上(shàng)海(hǎi)。
    I lived in Beijing before, and later moved to Shanghai.
  2. 这(zhè)跟(gēn)原(yuán)先(xiān)的(de)计(jì)划(huà)不(bù)太(tài)一(yī)样(yàng)。
    This is quite different from the original plan.

Writing & Component

Radical儿
Structuretop_bottom
Stroke Count6
Strokes丿一丨一丿乚

Common Words

HSK 1
xiān sheng先生

Mr.; husband; sir