Usages of xiān
我 先 开 灯, 再 看 书。wǒ xiān kāi dēng, zài kàn shū.
I will turn on the light first, then read.
我 先 喝 一点儿 水, 再 去 公司。wǒ xiān hē yìdiǎnr shuǐ, zài qù gōngsī.
I’ll drink a little water first, then go to the company.
我 想 让 她 先 回 家。wǒ xiǎng ràng tā xiān huí jiā.
I want to let her go home first.
你 现在 要 吃 早饭, 还是 先 去 公司?nǐ xiànzài yào chī zǎofàn, háishi xiān qù gōngsī?
Do you want to eat breakfast now, or go to the company first?
他 又 来 我 家 了, 我 让 他 先 进来。tā yòu lái wǒ jiā le, wǒ ràng tā xiān jìnlái.
He came to my place again; I asked him to come in first.
你 先 买 票, 我 明天 提前 十 分钟 到。nǐ xiān mǎi piào, wǒ míngtiān tíqián shí fēnzhōng dào.
Buy the tickets first; I will arrive ten minutes early tomorrow.
今天 我 得 先 去 银行。Jīntiān wǒ děi xiān qù yínháng.
Today I must go to the bank first.
你 得 先 吃 完 早饭, 再 去 银行。Nǐ děi xiān chī wán zǎofàn, zài qù yínháng.
You must finish breakfast first, then go to the bank.
这 个 东西 不 太 贵, 我 先 试试。zhè gè dōngxi bú tài guì, wǒ xiān shìshi.
This thing isn’t too expensive; I’ll try it first.
你 先 休息 一会儿, 我们 还 有 一些 时间, 然后 我们 继续 学习。nǐ 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.
你 现在 有空 吗? 我们 先 结束 这 件 事情, 再 继续。nǐ 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 先 说 语法, 然后 让 我们 写 句子。lǎoshī xiān shuō yǔfǎ, ránhòu ràng wǒmen xiě jùzi.
The teacher first explains the grammar, then lets us write sentences.
我 喜欢 自己 先 复习 语法, 再 写 汉字 和 生词。Wǒ 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 她 喜欢 先 吃 一点儿 水果, 再 喝 牛奶。Zǎoshang 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 我们 下班 以后 总是 先 回家, 然后 再 去 超市。Píngshí wǒmen xiàbān yǐhòu zǒngshì xiān huíjiā, ránhòu zài qù chāoshì.
Normally, after work we always go home first and then go to the supermarket.
他 下班 以后 先 洗澡, 再 洗 衣服, 最后 打扫 房间。tā 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.
他 在 聚会 上 先 简单 介绍 了 自己, 然后 就 跟 大家 聊天。tā 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.
我们 准备 去 机场 以前, 先 在 手机 上 买 好 机票。wǒmen 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.
在 火车站 跟 朋友 说 再见 的 时候, 她 先 哭 了 一会儿, 后来 又 笑 了。Zài 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.
我 们 先 在 图书馆 学习, 后来 一起 去 公园 散步。wǒ 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.
我 的 学习 计划 是 先 提高 中文 水平, 然后 再 学 别的 东西。wǒ 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.
她 先 上 楼上 的 洗手间, 再 下来 跟 我 一起 继续 购物。tā 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.
买 新 游戏机 的 时候, 他 先 认真 看 完 了 说明。mǎi 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 她 先 申请 失败 了, 但是 后来 又 申请 了 一 次, 终 于 成功 了。Suīrán 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.
我 想 先 在 国内 工作, 再 出国 留学。wǒ xiǎng xiān zài guónèi gōngzuò, zài chūguó liúxué.
I want to first work in my own country, then go abroad to study.
老师 先 介绍 今天 课 的 内容, 再 告诉 我们 每 个 部分 的 重点。Lǎoshī 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 让 我 先 戴上 口罩, 再 去 附近 的 药店 买 药。māma 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.
到 了 医院 以后, 我们 先 去 挂号, 再 等 医生。dào 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 先 问 了 她 的 症状, 然后 又 给 她 量 了 体温。yīshēng 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.
我 想 先 预约 医生, 再 去 医院。wǒ xiǎng xiān yùyuē yīshēng, zài qù yīyuàn.
I want to make an appointment with the doctor first, then go to the hospital.
她 先 预约 了 医生, 然后 请假 去 医院。tā 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 让 我 先 吃 药, 再 休息。yīshēng ràng wǒ xiān chī yào, zài xiūxi.
The doctor told me to take medicine first, then rest.
她 买 鞋子 的 时候, 一般 先 看 价格, 再 看 质量。Tā 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 先 试试, 才 知道 这个 尺码 是不是 合身。Zhǐyǒu xiān shìshi, cái zhīdào zhège chǐmǎ shìbushì héshēn.
Only by trying it on first can you know whether this size fits.
只有 先 联系 客服, 我们 才 知道 怎么 退货。Zhǐyǒu xiān liánxì kèfú, wǒmen cái zhīdào zěnme tuìhuò.
Only by contacting customer service first can we know how to return it.
她 用 新 手机 的 时候, 先 登录 自己 的 账号, 然后 看 里面 的 消息。Tā 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 先 登录 账号, 你 才 可以 下载 文件。Zhǐyǒu xiān dēnglù zhànghào, nǐ cái kěyǐ xiàzǎi wénjiàn.
Only by logging into your account first can you download the file.
我 晚上 想 先 上传 报告, 再 登录 网站 看 老师 有没有 收到。Wǒ 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.
你 先 试试 这 件 衣服 吧。nǐ xiān shìshi zhè jiàn yīfu ba.
Try on this piece of clothing first.
你 先 登录 网站, 再 下载 文件 吧。nǐ xiān dēnglù wǎngzhàn, zài xiàzǎi wénjiàn ba.
Log into the website first, then download the file.
写完 报告 以后, 记得 先 把 文件 保存好, 再 上传 到 网站。xiěwán 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.
我 先 去 邮局 把 包裹 寄出去, 再 回 公司 工作。wǒ 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 上课 的 时候, 请 把 课本 放 在 桌子 上, 先 看 黑板, 再 做 笔记。jīntiān 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.
这 支 铅笔 太 短 了, 不如 先 用 橡皮 旁边 那 支 新 的 吧。zhè 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.
我 的 手机 快 没电 了, 我 得 先 给 耳机 充电。wǒ 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 你 觉得 太 着急, 不如 先 喝 点儿 水, 再 慢慢 想 办法。rúguǒ 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 这个 坏 消息 以后, 我 先 安慰 她, 再 陪 她 去 外面 走走。tīngdào 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 在 黑板 上 写 了 几 个 生词, 我们 先 读, 再 写 句子。lǎoshī 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.
我 先 把 报告 打印 出来, 再 去 会议室。wǒ xiān bǎ bàogào dǎyìn chūlái, zài qù huìyìshì.
I’ll print out the report first, then go to the meeting room.
她 吃 早餐 前 总是 先 洗手, 也 会 用 毛巾 擦 脸。tā 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 我 想 先 收拾 房间, 再 去 超市 买 东西。zhōumò 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.
我 的 桌子 太 乱 了, 我 得 先 收拾 一下。wǒ de zhuōzi tài luàn le, wǒ děi xiān shōushi yíxià.
My desk is too messy; I need to tidy it up first.
她 想 先 签 半年 的 合同, 如果 住 得 舒服, 再 继续 租 下去。tā 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 前 请 先 洗手。chīfàn qián qǐng xiān xǐshǒu.
Please wash your hands before eating.
她 先 洗 脸, 再 刷牙。tā xiān xǐ liǎn, zài shuāyá.
She washes her face first, then brushes her teeth.
先 把 资料 整理 好, 再 写 报告, 这样 更 轻松。xiān 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 房间 太 乱, 我 就 先 整理 一下。rúguǒ fángjiān tài luàn, wǒ jiù xiān zhěnglǐ yíxià.
If the room is too messy, I’ll tidy it up first.
我 先 把 桌子 上面 的 资料 整理 好, 再 开始 写 报告。wǒ 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 看 电影 的 时候, 我们 先 把 窗帘 拉上, 再 把 灯 关 了。wǎnshang 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.
你 先 在 外面 等 我, 我 很快 就 出来。nǐ xiān zài wàimiàn děng wǒ, wǒ hěnkuài jiù chūlái.
Wait for me outside; I’ll come out very soon.
你 先 把 房间 整理好, 再 请 朋友 进来 吧。nǐ xiān bǎ fángjiān zhěnglǐhǎo, zài qǐng péngyou jìnlái ba.
First tidy up the room, then invite your friend in.
晚上 我 常常 先 洗澡, 再 睡觉。wǎnshang wǒ chángcháng xiān xǐzǎo, zài shuìjiào.
At night, I often take a shower first, then go to sleep.
我们 先 吃饭, 再 去 公园 散步 吧。wǒmen xiān chīfàn, zài qù gōngyuán sànbù ba.
Let's eat first, then go for a walk in the park.
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