xiān zhuāngxiāng, zài fēngxiāng.

Pack the items into boxes first, and then seal the boxes.

Breakdown of xiān zhuāngxiāng, zài fēngxiāng.

• 先xiān: first
• 再zài: then
• 封箱fēngxiāng: to seal a box
• 装箱zhuāngxiāng: to pack into boxes

Questions & Answers about xiān zhuāngxiāng, zài fēngxiāng.

What grammar pattern is this sentence using?

It uses the very common pattern 先……，再……:

• 先 = first
• 再 = then / after that

So the structure is:

先 + action 1，再 + action 2

It shows that one action happens before another. In this sentence:

• 先装箱 = first pack into boxes
• 再封箱 = then seal the boxes

This pattern is extremely common in instructions and step-by-step directions.

Why does 再 mean then here? I thought it meant again.

That is a very common question. 再 can mean different things depending on context.

Here, in 先……再……, 再 means:

• then
• after that
• next

It is marking the second step, not repetition.

So here it does not mean again.

Compare:

• 先洗手，再吃饭。 = First wash your hands, then eat.
• 再说一次。 = Say it again.

Same word, different use.

Why is there no subject in the sentence?