xiān

first

Usages of xiān

• 我wǒ 先xiān 开kāi 灯dēng， 再zài 看kàn 书shū。: I will turn on the light first, then read.
• 我wǒ 先xiān 喝hē 一点儿yìdiǎnr 水shuǐ， 再zài 去qù 公司gōngsī。: I’ll drink a little water first, then go to the company.
• 我wǒ 想xiǎng 让ràng 她tā 先xiān 回huí 家jiā。: I want to let her go home first.
• 你nǐ 现在xiànzài 要yào 吃chī 早饭zǎofàn， 还是háishi 先xiān 去qù 公司gōngsī？: Do you want to eat breakfast now, or go to the company first?
• 他tā 又yòu 来lái 我wǒ 家jiā 了le， 我wǒ 让ràng 他tā 先xiān 进来jìnlái。: He came to my place again; I asked him to come in first.
• 你nǐ 先xiān 买mǎi 票piào， 我wǒ 明天míngtiān 提前tíqián 十shí 分钟fēnzhōng 到dào。: Buy the tickets first; I will arrive ten minutes early tomorrow.
• 今天Jīntiān 我wǒ 得děi 先xiān 去qù 银行yínháng。: Today I must go to the bank first.
• 你Nǐ 得děi 先xiān 吃chī 完wán 早饭zǎofàn， 再zài 去qù 银行yínháng。: You must finish breakfast first, then go to the bank.
• 这zhè 个gè 东西dōngxi 不bú 太tài 贵guì， 我wǒ 先xiān 试试shìshi。: This thing isn’t too expensive; I’ll try it first.
• 你nǐ 先xiān 休息xiūxi 一会儿yíhuìr， 我们wǒmen 还hái 有yǒu 一些yìxiē 时间shíjiān， 然后ránhòu 我们wǒmen 继续jìxù 学习xuéxí。: Rest for a while first; we still have some time, then we’ll continue studying.
• 你nǐ 现在xiànzài 有空yǒukòng 吗ma？ 我们wǒmen 先xiān 结束jiéshù 这zhè 件jiàn 事情shìqíng， 再zài 继续jìxù。: Are you free now? Let’s finish this matter first, then continue.
• 老师lǎoshī 先xiān 说shuō 语法yǔfǎ， 然后ránhòu 让ràng 我们wǒmen 写xiě 句子jùzi。: The teacher first explains the grammar, then lets us write sentences.
• 我Wǒ 喜欢xǐhuan 自己zìjǐ 先xiān 复习fùxí 语法yǔfǎ， 再zài 写xiě 汉字Hànzì 和hé 生词shēngcí。: I like to first review the grammar by myself, then write characters and new words.
• 早上Zǎoshang 她tā 喜欢xǐhuan 先xiān 吃chī 一点儿yìdiǎnr 水果shuǐguǒ， 再zài 喝hē 牛奶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 先xiān 回家huíjiā， 然后ránhòu 再zài 去qù 超市chāoshì。: Normally, after work we always go home first and then go to the supermarket.
• 他tā 下班xiàbān 以后yǐhòu 先xiān 洗澡xǐzǎo， 再zài 洗xǐ 衣服yīfu， 最后zuìhòu 打扫dǎsǎo 房间fángjiān。: After work he first takes a shower, then washes his clothes, and finally cleans the room.
• 他tā 在zài 聚会jùhuì 上shàng 先xiān 简单jiǎndān 介绍jièshào 了le 自己zìjǐ， 然后ránhòu 就jiù 跟gēn 大家dàjiā 聊天liáotiān。: At the get-together he first briefly introduced himself, and then started chatting with everyone.
• 我wǒ们men 准备zhǔnbèi 去qù 机jī场chǎng 以前yǐqián， 先xiān 在zài 手机shǒujī 上shàng 买mǎi 好hǎo 机票jīpiào。: Before we go to the airport, we first buy the plane tickets on the phone.
• 在Zài 火车站huǒchēzhàn 跟gēn 朋友péngyou 说shuō 再见zàijiàn 的de 时候shíhou， 她tā 先xiān 哭kū 了le 一会儿yíhuìr， 后来hòulái 又yòu 笑xiào 了le。: When saying goodbye to her friend at the train station, she first cried for a while and then smiled again.
• 我wǒ 们men 先xiān 在zài 图书馆túshūguǎn 学习xuéxí， 后来hòulái 一yì起qǐ 去qù 公园gōngyuán 散步sànbù。: We first studied in the library, and later went to the park for a walk together.
• 我wǒ 的de 学习xuéxí 计划jìhuà 是shì 先xiān 提高tígāo 中文zhōngwén 水平shuǐpíng， 然后ránhòu 再zài 学xué 别的biéde 东西dōngxi。: My study plan is to first improve my Chinese level, then learn other things.
• 她tā 先xiān 上shàng 楼上lóushàng 的de 洗手间xǐshǒujiān， 再zài 下来xiàlái 跟gēn 我wǒ 一起yìqǐ 继续jìxù 购物gòuwù。: She first goes upstairs to the restroom, then comes back down and continues shopping with me.
• 买mǎi 新xīn 游戏机yóuxìjī 的de 时候shíhou， 他tā 先xiān 认真rènzhēn 看kàn 完wán 了le 说明shuōmíng。: When buying a new game console, he first carefully read the instructions.
• 虽然Suīrán 她tā 先xiān 申请shēnqǐng 失败shībài 了le， 但是dànshì 后来hòulái 又yòu 申请shēnqǐng 了le 一yì 次cì， 终 于zhōngyú 成功chénggōng 了le。: Although her first application failed, later she applied again and finally succeeded.
• 我wǒ 想xiǎng 先xiān 在zài 国内guónèi 工作gōngzuò， 再zài 出国chūguó 留学liúxué。: I want to first work in my own country, then go abroad to study.
• 老师Lǎoshī 先xiān 介绍jièshào 今天jīntiān 课kè 的de 内容nèiróng， 再zài 告诉gàosu 我们wǒmen 每měi 个gè 部分bùfen 的de 重点zhòngdiǎn。: The teacher first introduces today’s lesson content, then tells us the key points of each part.
• 妈妈māma 让ràng 我wǒ 先xiān 戴上dàishàng 口罩kǒuzhào， 再zài 去qù 附近fùjìn 的de 药店yàodiàn 买mǎi 药yào。: My mom told me to put on a mask first, then go to the nearby pharmacy to buy medicine.
• 到dào 了le 医院yīyuàn 以后yǐhòu， 我们wǒmen 先xiān 去qù 挂号guàhào， 再zài 等děng 医生yīshēng。: After arriving at the hospital, we first go register, then wait for the doctor.
• 医生yīshēng 先xiān 问wèn 了le 她tā 的de 症状zhèngzhuàng， 然后ránhòu 又yòu 给gěi 她tā 量liáng 了le 体温tǐwēn。: The doctor first asked about her symptoms, then took her temperature again.
• 我wǒ 想xiǎng 先xiān 预约yùyuē 医生yīshēng， 再zài 去qù 医院yīyuàn。: I want to make an appointment with the doctor first, then go to the hospital.
• 她tā 先xiān 预约yùyuē 了le 医生yīshēng， 然后ránhòu 请假qǐngjià 去qù 医院yīyuàn。: She first made an appointment with the doctor, then took leave and went to the hospital.
• 医生yīshēng 让ràng 我wǒ 先xiān 吃chī 药yào， 再zài 休息xiūxi。: The doctor told me to take medicine first, then rest.
• 她Tā 买mǎi 鞋子xiézi 的de 时候shíhou， 一般yìbān 先xiān 看kàn 价格jiàgé， 再zài 看kàn 质量zhìliàng。: When she buys shoes, she usually looks at the price first and then the quality.
• 只有Zhǐyǒu 先xiān 试试shìshi， 才cái 知道zhīdào 这个zhège 尺码chǐmǎ 是不是shìbushì 合身héshēn。: Only by trying it on first can you know whether this size fits.
• 只有Zhǐyǒu 先xiān 联系liánxì 客服kèfú， 我们wǒmen 才cái 知道zhīdào 怎么zěnme 退货tuìhuò。: Only by contacting customer service first can we know how to return it.
• 她Tā 用yòng 新xīn 手机shǒujī 的de 时候shíhou， 先xiān 登录dēnglù 自己zìjǐ 的de 账号zhànghào， 然后ránhòu 看kàn 里面lǐmiàn 的de 消息xiāoxi。: When she uses a new phone, she first logs into her account and then looks at the messages inside.
• 只有Zhǐyǒu 先xiān 登录dēnglù 账号zhànghào， 你nǐ 才cái 可以kěyǐ 下载xiàzǎi 文件wénjiàn。: Only by logging into your account first can you download the file.
• 我Wǒ 晚上wǎnshang 想xiǎng 先xiān 上传shàngchuán 报告bàogào， 再zài 登录dēnglù 网站wǎngzhàn 看kàn 老师lǎoshī 有没有yǒuméiyǒu 收到shōudào。: Tonight I want to upload the report first, then log into the website to see whether the teacher has received it.
• 你nǐ 先xiān 试试shìshi 这zhè 件jiàn 衣服yīfu 吧ba。: Try on this piece of clothing first.
• 你nǐ 先xiān 登录dēnglù 网站wǎngzhàn， 再zài 下载xiàzǎi 文件wénjiàn 吧ba。: Log into the website first, then download the file.
• 写完xiěwán 报告bàogào 以后yǐhòu， 记得jìde 先xiān 把bǎ 文件wénjiàn 保存好bǎocúnhǎo， 再zài 上传shàngchuán 到dào 网站wǎngzhàn。: After you finish writing the report, remember to save the file properly first, and then upload it to the website.
• 我wǒ 先xiān 去qù 邮局yóujú 把bǎ 包裹bāoguǒ 寄出去jìchūqù， 再zài 回huí 公司gōngsī 工作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 的de 时候shíhou， 请qǐng 把bǎ 课本kèběn 放fàng 在zài 桌子zhuōzi 上shàng， 先xiān 看kàn 黑板hēibǎn， 再zài 做zuò 笔记bǐjì。: During class today, please put the textbook on the desk, look at the blackboard first, and then take notes.
• 这zhè 支zhī 铅笔qiānbǐ 太tài 短duǎn 了le， 不如bùrú 先xiān 用yòng 橡皮xiàngpí 旁边pángbiān 那nà 支zhī 新xīn 的de 吧ba。: This pencil is too short; you might as well use the new one next to the eraser first.
• 我wǒ 的de 手机shǒujī 快kuài 没电méidiàn 了le， 我wǒ 得děi 先xiān 给gěi 耳机ěrjī 充电chōngdiàn。: My phone is almost out of power, and I need to charge my earphones first.
• 如果rúguǒ 你nǐ 觉得juéde 太tài 着急zháojí， 不如bùrú 先xiān 喝hē 点儿diǎnr 水shuǐ， 再zài 慢慢mànmàn 想xiǎng 办法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 坏huài 消息xiāoxi 以后yǐhòu， 我wǒ 先xiān 安慰ānwèi 她tā， 再zài 陪péi 她tā 去qù 外面wàimiàn 走走zǒuzou。: After hearing this bad news, I first comforted her and then went outside for a walk with her.
• 老师lǎoshī 在zài 黑板hēibǎn 上shàng 写xiě 了le 几jǐ 个gè 生词shēngcí， 我们wǒmen 先xiān 读dú， 再zài 写xiě 句子jùzi。: The teacher wrote a few new words on the blackboard; we read them first, then write sentences.
• 我wǒ 先xiān 把bǎ 报告bàogào 打印dǎyìn 出来chūlái， 再zài 去qù 会议室huìyìshì。: I’ll print out the report first, then go to the meeting room.
• 她tā 吃chī 早餐zǎocān 前qián 总是zǒngshì 先xiān 洗手xǐshǒu， 也yě 会huì 用yòng 毛巾máojīn 擦cā 脸liǎn。: Before breakfast, she always washes her hands first and also wipes her face with a towel.
• 周末zhōumò 我wǒ 想xiǎng 先xiān 收拾shōushi 房间fángjiān， 再zài 去qù 超市chāoshì 买mǎi 东西dōngxi。: On the weekend I want to tidy up my room first, then go to the supermarket to buy things.
• 我wǒ 的de 桌子zhuōzi 太tài 乱luàn 了le， 我wǒ 得děi 先xiān 收拾shōushi 一下yíxià。: My desk is too messy; I need to tidy it up first.
• 她tā 想xiǎng 先xiān 签qiān 半年bànnián 的de 合同hétong， 如果rúguǒ 住zhù 得de 舒服shūfu， 再zài 继续jìxù 租zū 下去xiàqù。: She wants to sign a half-year contract first; if it’s comfortable to live there, she’ll keep renting.
• 吃饭chīfàn 前qián 请qǐng 先xiān 洗手xǐshǒu。: Please wash your hands before eating.
• 她tā 先xiān 洗xǐ 脸liǎn， 再zài 刷牙shuāyá。: She washes her face first, then brushes her teeth.
• 先xiān 把bǎ 资料zīliào 整理zhěnglǐ 好hǎo， 再zài 写xiě 报告bàogào， 这样zhèyàng 更gèng 轻松qīngsōng。: Put the materials in order first, then write the report; that way it’s easier.
• 如果rúguǒ 房间fángjiān 太tài 乱luàn， 我wǒ 就jiù 先xiān 整理zhěnglǐ 一yí下xià。: If the room is too messy, I’ll tidy it up first.
• 我wǒ 先xiān 把bǎ 桌子zhuōzi 上面shàngmian 的de 资料zīliào 整理zhěnglǐ 好hǎo， 再zài 开始kāishǐ 写xiě 报告bàogào。: I’ll first arrange the materials on the desk, then start writing the report.
• 晚上wǎnshang 看kàn 电影diànyǐng 的de 时候shíhou， 我们wǒmen 先xiān 把bǎ 窗帘chuānglián 拉上lāshàng， 再zài 把bǎ 灯dēng 关guān 了le。: When we watch a movie at night, we first draw the curtains, then turn off the light.
• 你nǐ 先xiān 在zài 外面wàimiàn 等děng 我wǒ， 我wǒ 很快hěnkuài 就jiù 出来chūlái。: Wait for me outside; I’ll come out very soon.
• 你nǐ 先xiān 把bǎ 房间fángjiān 整理好zhěnglǐhǎo， 再zài 请qǐng 朋友péngyou 进来jìnlái 吧ba。: First tidy up the room, then invite your friend in.
• 晚上wǎnshang 我wǒ 常常chángcháng 先xiān 洗澡xǐzǎo， 再zài 睡觉shuìjiào。: At night, I often take a shower first, then go to sleep.
• 我们wǒmen 先xiān 吃饭chīfàn， 再zài 去qù 公园gōngyuán 散步sànbù 吧ba。: Let's eat first, then go for a walk in the park.
• 先xiān 冻结dòngjié 银行卡yínhángkǎ， 再zài 看kàn 账户余额zhànghùyú’é 和hé 交易记录jiāoyìjìlù。: Freeze the bank card first, then check the account balance and transaction record.
• 先xiān 切qiē 牛肉niúròu。: Cut the beef first.
• 先xiān 把bǎ 水shuǐ 煮开zhǔkāi。: Bring the water to a boil first.
• 先xiān 切qiē 牛肉niúròu， 再zài 把bǎ 水shuǐ 煮开zhǔkāi， 然后ránhòu 涮shuàn 牛肉niúròu。: Cut the beef first, then bring the water to a boil and swish-cook the beef.
• 先xiān 把bǎ 衣服yīfu 分类fēnlèi。: Sort the clothes first.
• 先xiān 把bǎ 洗衣液xǐyīyè 放fàng 在zài 污渍wūzì 上shàng， 再zài 浸泡jìnpào 衣服yīfu。: Put laundry liquid on the stain first, then soak the clothes.
• 先xiān 把bǎ 脏衣服zāngyīfu 和hé 床单chuángdān 放fàng 在zài 洗衣篮xǐyīlán 里lǐ。: Put the dirty clothes and bed sheet in the laundry basket first.
• 请qǐng 先xiān 取号qǔhào。: Please get a queue number first.
• 除非chúfēi 先xiān 做zuò 体检tǐjiǎn， 否则fǒuzé 车管所chēguǎnsuǒ 不能bùnéng 审核shěnhé 申请材料shēnqǐngcáiliào。: Unless you first have a medical examination, the vehicle administration office cannot review the application documents.
• 除非chúfēi 先xiān 缴费jiǎofèi， 否则fǒuzé 不能bùnéng 领取lǐngqǔ 驾驶证jiàshǐzhèng。: Unless you pay the fee first, you cannot collect the driving licence.
• 先xiān 看kàn 天气预报tiānqìyùbào。: Check the weather forecast first.
• 与其yǔqí 下雨xiàyǔ 的de 时候shíhou 搭帐篷dāzhàngpeng， 不如bùrú 先xiān 等děng 一会儿yíhuìr。: Rather than pitch the tent while it is raining, wait a while first.
• 先xiān 查chá 天气预报tiānqìyùbào。: Check the weather forecast first.
• 一旦yídàn 叶片yèpiàn 发黄fāhuáng， 就jiù 先xiān 不用búyòng 施肥shīféi。: Once the leaves turn yellow, do not fertilize for the moment.
• 一旦yídàn 发现fāxiàn 虫害chónghài， 就jiù 先xiān 看kàn 叶片yèpiàn。: Once you discover a pest infestation, check the leaves first.
• 请qǐng 先xiān 检查jiǎnchá 水管shuǐguǎn。: Please inspect the water pipe first.
• 先xiān 检查jiǎnchá 轮胎lúntāi。: Check the tyres first.
• 我们wǒmen 先xiān 看kàn 路况lùkuàng。: Let's check the road conditions first.
• 捐赠juānzèng 以前yǐqián 要yào 先xiān 消毒xiāodú。: Disinfect the items before donating them.
• 请qǐng 先xiān 看kàn 社区shèqū 公告gōnggào。: Please read the community notice first.
• 趁chèn 旧物jiùwù 还hái 在zài 这里zhèlǐ， 先xiān 消毒xiāodú 吧ba。: While the used household items are still here, disinfect them first.
• 先xiān 装箱zhuāngxiāng， 再zài 封箱fēngxiāng。: Pack the items into boxes first, and then seal the boxes.
• 我们wǒmen 不是bùshì 先xiān 拆箱chāixiāng， 就是jiùshì 先xiān 安装ānzhuāng 家具jiājù。: We will either unpack the boxes first or install the furniture first.
• 请qǐng 先xiān 看kàn 岗位职责gǎngwèizhízé。: Please read the job responsibilities first.
• 请qǐng 先xiān 在zài 登记单dēngjìdān 上shàng 写xiě 名字míngzi。: Please write your name on the registration form first.

Master Chinese — from xiān to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

• ✓Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
• ✓Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
• ✓Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
• ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions

Start learning Chinese →