xiān

Usages of xiān

 xiān kāi dēng, zài kàn shūwǒ xiān kāi dēng, zài kàn shū.
I will turn on the light first, then read.
 xiān  一点儿yìdiǎnr shuǐ, zài  公司gōngsīwǒ xiān hē yìdiǎnr shuǐ, zài qù gōngsī.
I’ll drink a little water first, then go to the company.
 xiǎng ràng  xiān huí jiāwǒ xiǎng ràng tā xiān huí jiā.
I want to let her go home first.
 现在xiànzài yào chī 早饭zǎofàn, 还是háishi xiān  公司gōngsīnǐ xiànzài yào chī zǎofàn, háishi xiān qù gōngsī?
Do you want to eat breakfast now, or go to the company first?
 yòu lái  jiā le,  ràng  xiān 进来jìnláitā yòu lái wǒ jiā le, wǒ ràng tā xiān jìnlái.
He came to my place again; I asked him to come in first.
 xiān mǎi piào,  明天míngtiān 提前tíqián shí 分钟fēnzhōng dàonǐ xiān mǎi piào, wǒ míngtiān tíqián shí fēnzhōng dào.
Buy the tickets first; I will arrive ten minutes early tomorrow.
今天Jīntiān  děi xiān  银行yínhángJīntiān wǒ děi xiān qù yínháng.
Today I must go to the bank first.
 děi xiān chī wán 早饭zǎofàn, zài  银行yínhángNǐ děi xiān chī wán zǎofàn, zài qù yínháng.
You must finish breakfast first, then go to the bank.
zhè  东西dōngxi  tài guì,  xiān 试试shìshizhè gè dōngxi bú tài guì, wǒ xiān shìshi.
This thing isn’t too expensive; I’ll try it first.
 xiān 休息xiūxi 一会儿yíhuìr, 我们wǒmen hái yǒu 一些yìxiē 时间shíjiān, 然后ránhòu 我们wǒmen 继续jìxù 学习xuéxínǐ xiān xiūxi yíhuìr, wǒmen hái yǒu yìxiē shíjiān, ránhòu wǒmen jìxù xuéxí.
Rest for a while first; we still have some time, then we’ll continue studying.
 现在xiànzài 有空yǒukòng ma? 我们wǒmen xiān 结束jiéshù zhè jiàn 事情shìqíng, zài 继续jìxùnǐ xiànzài yǒukòng ma? wǒmen xiān jiéshù zhè jiàn shìqíng, zài jìxù.
Are you free now? Let’s finish this matter first, then continue.
老师lǎoshī xiān shuō 语法yǔfǎ, 然后ránhòu ràng 我们wǒmen xiě 句子jùzilǎoshī xiān shuō yǔfǎ, ránhòu ràng wǒmen xiě jùzi.
The teacher first explains the grammar, then lets us write sentences.
 喜欢xǐhuan 自己zìjǐ xiān 复习fùxí 语法yǔfǎ, zài xiě 汉字Hànzì  生词shēngcíWǒ xǐhuan zìjǐ xiān fùxí yǔfǎ, zài xiě Hànzì hé shēngcí.
I like to first review the grammar by myself, then write characters and new words.
早上Zǎoshang  喜欢xǐhuan xiān chī 一点儿yìdiǎnr 水果shuǐguǒ, zài  牛奶niúnǎiZǎoshang tā xǐhuan xiān chī yìdiǎnr shuǐguǒ, zài hē niúnǎi.
In the morning she likes to eat a little fruit first and then drink milk.
平时Píngshí 我们wǒmen 下班xiàbān 以后yǐhòu 总是zǒngshì xiān 回家huíjiā, 然后ránhòu zài  超市chāoshìPíngshí wǒmen xiàbān yǐhòu zǒngshì xiān huíjiā, ránhòu zài qù chāoshì.
Normally, after work we always go home first and then go to the supermarket.
 下班xiàbān 以后yǐhòu xiān 洗澡xǐzǎo, zài  衣服yīfu, 最后zuìhòu 打扫dǎsǎo 房间fángjiāntā xiàbān yǐhòu xiān xǐzǎo, zài xǐ yīfu, zuìhòu dǎsǎo fángjiān.
After work he first takes a shower, then washes his clothes, and finally cleans the room.
 zài 聚会jùhuì shàng xiān 简单jiǎndān 介绍jièshào le 自己zìjǐ, 然后ránhòu jiù gēn 大家dàjiā 聊天liáotiāntā zài jùhuì shàng xiān jiǎndān jièshào le zìjǐ, ránhòu jiù gēn dàjiā liáotiān.
At the get-together he first briefly introduced himself, and then started chatting with everyone.
men 准备zhǔnbèi  chǎng 以前yǐqián, xiān zài 手机shǒujī shàng mǎi hǎo 机票jīpiàowǒmen zhǔnbèi qù jīchǎng yǐqián, xiān zài shǒujī shàng mǎi hǎo jīpiào.
Before we go to the airport, we first buy the plane tickets on the phone.
Zài 火车站huǒchēzhàn gēn 朋友péngyou shuō 再见zàijiàn de 时候shíhou,  xiān  le 一会儿yíhuìr, 后来hòulái yòu xiào leZài huǒchēzhàn gēn péngyou shuō zàijiàn de shíhou, tā xiān kū le yíhuìr, hòulái yòu xiào le.
When saying goodbye to her friend at the train station, she first cried for a while and then smiled again.
 men xiān zài 图书馆túshūguǎn 学习xuéxí, 后来hòulái   公园gōngyuán 散步sànbùwǒ men xiān zài túshūguǎn xuéxí, hòulái yìqǐ qù gōngyuán sànbù.
We first studied in the library, and later went to the park for a walk together.
 de 学习xuéxí 计划jìhuà shì xiān 提高tígāo 中文zhōngwén 水平shuǐpíng, 然后ránhòu zài xué 别的biéde 东西dōngxiwǒ de xuéxí jìhuà shì xiān tígāo zhōngwén shuǐpíng, ránhòu zài xué biéde dōngxi.
My study plan is to first improve my Chinese level, then learn other things.
 xiān shàng 楼上lóushàng de 洗手间xǐshǒujiān, zài 下来xiàlái gēn  一起yìqǐ 继续jìxù 购物gòuwùtā xiān shàng lóushàng de xǐshǒujiān, zài xiàlái gēn wǒ yìqǐ jìxù gòuwù.
She first goes upstairs to the restroom, then comes back down and continues shopping with me.
mǎi xīn 游戏机yóuxìjī de 时候shíhou,  xiān 认真rènzhēn kàn wán le 说明shuōmíngmǎi xīn yóuxìjī de shíhou, tā xiān rènzhēn kàn wán le shuōmíng.
When buying a new game console, he first carefully read the instructions.
虽然Suīrán  xiān 申请shēnqǐng 失败shībài le, 但是dànshì 后来hòulái yòu 申请shēnqǐng le  , 终 zhōngyú 成功chénggōng leSuīrán tā xiān shēnqǐng shībài le, dànshì hòulái yòu shēnqǐng le yì cì, zhōngyú chénggōng le.
Although her first application failed, later she applied again and finally succeeded.
 xiǎng xiān zài 国内guónèi 工作gōngzuò, zài 出国chūguó 留学liúxuéwǒ xiǎng xiān zài guónèi gōngzuò, zài chūguó liúxué.
I want to first work in my own country, then go abroad to study.
老师Lǎoshī xiān 介绍jièshào 今天jīntiān  de 内容nèiróng, zài 告诉gàosu 我们wǒmen měi  部分bùfen de 重点zhòngdiǎnLǎoshī xiān jièshào jīntiān kè de nèiróng, zài gàosu wǒmen měi gè bùfen de zhòngdiǎn.
The teacher first introduces today’s lesson content, then tells us the key points of each part.
妈妈māma ràng  xiān 戴上dàishàng 口罩kǒuzhào, zài  附近fùjìn de 药店yàodiàn mǎi yàomāma ràng wǒ xiān dàishàng kǒuzhào, zài qù fùjìn de yàodiàn mǎi yào.
My mom told me to put on a mask first, then go to the nearby pharmacy to buy medicine.
dào le 医院yīyuàn 以后yǐhòu, 我们wǒmen xiān  挂号guàhào, zài děng 医生yīshēngdào le yīyuàn yǐhòu, wǒmen xiān qù guàhào, zài děng yīshēng.
After arriving at the hospital, we first go register, then wait for the doctor.
医生yīshēng xiān wèn le  de 症状zhèngzhuàng, 然后ránhòu yòu gěi  liáng le 体温tǐwēnyīshēng xiān wèn le tā de zhèngzhuàng, ránhòu yòu gěi tā liáng le tǐwēn.
The doctor first asked about her symptoms, then took her temperature again.
 xiǎng xiān 预约yùyuē 医生yīshēng, zài  医院yīyuànwǒ xiǎng xiān yùyuē yīshēng, zài qù yīyuàn.
I want to make an appointment with the doctor first, then go to the hospital.
 xiān 预约yùyuē le 医生yīshēng, 然后ránhòu 请假qǐngjià  医院yīyuàntā xiān yùyuē le yīshēng, ránhòu qǐngjià qù yīyuàn.
She first made an appointment with the doctor, then took leave and went to the hospital.
医生yīshēng ràng  xiān chī yào, zài 休息xiūxiyīshēng ràng wǒ xiān chī yào, zài xiūxi.
The doctor told me to take medicine first, then rest.
 mǎi 鞋子xiézi de 时候shíhou, 一般yìbān xiān kàn 价格jiàgé, zài kàn 质量zhìliàngTā mǎi xiézi de shíhou, yìbān xiān kàn jiàgé, zài kàn zhìliàng.
When she buys shoes, she usually looks at the price first and then the quality.
只有Zhǐyǒu xiān 试试shìshi, cái 知道zhīdào 这个zhège 尺码chǐmǎ 是不是shìbushì 合身héshēnZhǐyǒu xiān shìshi, cái zhīdào zhège chǐmǎ shìbushì héshēn.
Only by trying it on first can you know whether this size fits.
只有Zhǐyǒu xiān 联系liánxì 客服kèfú, 我们wǒmen cái 知道zhīdào 怎么zěnme 退货tuìhuòZhǐyǒu xiān liánxì kèfú, wǒmen cái zhīdào zěnme tuìhuò.
Only by contacting customer service first can we know how to return it.
 yòng xīn 手机shǒujī de 时候shíhou, xiān 登录dēnglù 自己zìjǐ de 账号zhànghào, 然后ránhòu kàn 里面lǐmiàn de 消息xiāoxiTā yòng xīn shǒujī de shíhou, xiān dēnglù zìjǐ de zhànghào, ránhòu kàn lǐmiàn de xiāoxi.
When she uses a new phone, she first logs into her account and then looks at the messages inside.
只有Zhǐyǒu xiān 登录dēnglù 账号zhànghào,  cái 可以kěyǐ 下载xiàzǎi 文件wénjiànZhǐyǒu xiān dēnglù zhànghào, nǐ cái kěyǐ xiàzǎi wénjiàn.
Only by logging into your account first can you download the file.
 晚上wǎnshang xiǎng xiān 上传shàngchuán 报告bàogào, zài 登录dēnglù 网站wǎngzhàn kàn 老师lǎoshī 有没有yǒuméiyǒu 收到shōudàoWǒ wǎnshang xiǎng xiān shàngchuán bàogào, zài dēnglù wǎngzhàn kàn lǎoshī yǒuméiyǒu shōudào.
Tonight I want to upload the report first, then log into the website to see whether the teacher has received it.
 xiān 试试shìshi zhè jiàn 衣服yīfu banǐ xiān shìshi zhè jiàn yīfu ba.
Try on this piece of clothing first.
 xiān 登录dēnglù 网站wǎngzhàn, zài 下载xiàzǎi 文件wénjiàn banǐ xiān dēnglù wǎngzhàn, zài xiàzǎi wénjiàn ba.
Log into the website first, then download the file.
写完xiěwán 报告bàogào 以后yǐhòu, 记得jìde xiān  文件wénjiàn 保存好bǎocúnhǎo, zài 上传shàngchuán dào 网站wǎngzhànxiěwán bàogào yǐhòu, jìde xiān bǎ wénjiàn bǎocúnhǎo, zài shàngchuán dào wǎngzhàn.
After you finish writing the report, remember to save the file properly first, and then upload it to the website.
 xiān  邮局yóujú  包裹bāoguǒ 寄出去jìchūqù, zài huí 公司gōngsī 工作gōngzuòwǒ xiān qù yóujú bǎ bāoguǒ jìchūqù, zài huí gōngsī gōngzuò.
I’ll go to the post office to mail out the package first, then go back to the company to work.
今天jīntiān 上课shàngkè de 时候shíhou, qǐng  课本kèběn fàng zài 桌子zhuōzi shàng, xiān kàn 黑板hēibǎn, zài zuò 笔记bǐjìjīntiān shàngkè de shíhou, qǐng bǎ kèběn fàng zài zhuōzi shàng, xiān kàn hēibǎn, zài zuò bǐjì.
During class today, please put the textbook on the desk, look at the blackboard first, and then take notes.
zhè zhī 铅笔qiānbǐ tài duǎn le, 不如bùrú xiān yòng 橡皮xiàngpí 旁边pángbiān  zhī xīn de bazhè zhī qiānbǐ tài duǎn le, bùrú xiān yòng xiàngpí pángbiān nà zhī xīn de ba.
This pencil is too short; you might as well use the new one next to the eraser first.
 de 手机shǒujī kuài 没电méidiàn le,  děi xiān gěi 耳机ěrjī 充电chōngdiànwǒ de shǒujī kuài méidiàn le, wǒ děi xiān gěi ěrjī chōngdiàn.
My phone is almost out of power, and I need to charge my earphones first.
如果rúguǒ  觉得juéde tài 着急zháojí, 不如bùrú xiān  点儿diǎnr shuǐ, zài 慢慢mànmàn xiǎng 办法bànfǎrúguǒ nǐ juéde tài zháojí, bùrú xiān hē diǎnr shuǐ, zài mànmàn xiǎng bànfǎ.
If you feel too anxious, you might as well drink a little water first and then slowly think of a solution.
听到tīngdào 这个zhège huài 消息xiāoxi 以后yǐhòu,  xiān 安慰ānwèi , zài péi   外面wàimiàn 走走zǒuzoutīngdào zhège huài xiāoxi yǐhòu, wǒ xiān ānwèi tā, zài péi tā qù wàimiàn zǒuzou.
After hearing this bad news, I first comforted her and then went outside for a walk with her.
老师lǎoshī zài 黑板hēibǎn shàng xiě le   生词shēngcí, 我们wǒmen xiān , zài xiě 句子jùzilǎoshī zài hēibǎn shàng xiě le jǐ gè shēngcí, wǒmen xiān dú, zài xiě jùzi.
The teacher wrote a few new words on the blackboard; we read them first, then write sentences.
 xiān  报告bàogào 打印dǎyìn 出来chūlái, zài  会议室huìyìshìwǒ xiān bǎ bàogào dǎyìn chūlái, zài qù huìyìshì.
I’ll print out the report first, then go to the meeting room.
 chī 早餐zǎocān qián 总是zǒngshì xiān 洗手xǐshǒu,  huì yòng 毛巾máojīn  liǎntā chī zǎocān qián zǒngshì xiān xǐshǒu, yě huì yòng máojīn cā liǎn.
Before breakfast, she always washes her hands first and also wipes her face with a towel.
周末zhōumò  xiǎng xiān 收拾shōushi 房间fángjiān, zài  超市chāoshì mǎi 东西dōngxizhōumò wǒ xiǎng xiān shōushi fángjiān, zài qù chāoshì mǎi dōngxi.
On the weekend I want to tidy up my room first, then go to the supermarket to buy things.
 de 桌子zhuōzi tài luàn le,  děi xiān 收拾shōushi 一下yíxiàwǒ de zhuōzi tài luàn le, wǒ děi xiān shōushi yíxià.
My desk is too messy; I need to tidy it up first.
 xiǎng xiān qiān 半年bànnián de 合同hétong, 如果rúguǒ zhù de 舒服shūfu, zài 继续jìxù  下去xiàqùtā xiǎng xiān qiān bànnián de hétong, rúguǒ zhù de shūfu, zài jìxù zū xiàqù.
She wants to sign a half-year contract first; if it’s comfortable to live there, she’ll keep renting.
吃饭chīfàn qián qǐng xiān 洗手xǐshǒuchīfàn qián qǐng xiān xǐshǒu.
Please wash your hands before eating.
 xiān  liǎn, zài 刷牙shuāyátā xiān xǐ liǎn, zài shuāyá.
She washes her face first, then brushes her teeth.
xiān  资料zīliào 整理zhěnglǐ hǎo, zài xiě 报告bàogào, 这样zhèyàng gèng 轻松qīngsōngxiān bǎ zīliào zhěnglǐ hǎo, zài xiě bàogào, zhèyàng gèng qīngsōng.
Put the materials in order first, then write the report; that way it’s easier.
如果rúguǒ 房间fángjiān tài luàn,  jiù xiān 整理zhěnglǐ xiàrúguǒ fángjiān tài luàn, wǒ jiù xiān zhěnglǐ yíxià.
If the room is too messy, I’ll tidy it up first.
 xiān  桌子zhuōzi 上面shàngmian de 资料zīliào 整理zhěnglǐ hǎo, zài 开始kāishǐ xiě 报告bàogàowǒ xiān bǎ zhuōzi shàngmian de zīliào zhěnglǐ hǎo, zài kāishǐ xiě bàogào.
I’ll first arrange the materials on the desk, then start writing the report.
晚上wǎnshang kàn 电影diànyǐng de 时候shíhou, 我们wǒmen xiān  窗帘chuānglián 拉上lāshàng, zài  dēng guān lewǎnshang kàn diànyǐng de shíhou, wǒmen xiān bǎ chuānglián lāshàng, zài bǎ dēng guān le.
When we watch a movie at night, we first draw the curtains, then turn off the light.
 xiān zài 外面wàimiàn děng ,  很快hěnkuài jiù 出来chūláinǐ xiān zài wàimiàn děng wǒ, wǒ hěnkuài jiù chūlái.
Wait for me outside; I’ll come out very soon.
 xiān  房间fángjiān 整理好zhěnglǐhǎo, zài qǐng 朋友péngyou 进来jìnlái banǐ xiān bǎ fángjiān zhěnglǐhǎo, zài qǐng péngyou jìnlái ba.
First tidy up the room, then invite your friend in.
晚上wǎnshang  常常chángcháng xiān 洗澡xǐzǎo, zài 睡觉shuìjiàowǎnshang wǒ chángcháng xiān xǐzǎo, zài shuìjiào.
At night, I often take a shower first, then go to sleep.
我们wǒmen xiān 吃饭chīfàn, zài  公园gōngyuán 散步sànbù bawǒmen xiān chīfàn, zài qù gōngyuán sànbù ba.
Let's eat first, then go for a walk in the park.
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Mandarin Chinese has four main tones plus a neutral tone. The same syllable can mean completely different things depending on the tone — for example, "mā" (mother), "má" (hemp), "mǎ" (horse), and "mà" (scold). Mastering tones is essential for being understood.

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